BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES 


FOUNDER,  AND  PRINCIPAL  ALUMNI 


OF  THE 


LOCI  COLLECIE, 


TOGETHER    WITH    AN    ACCOUNT     OF     THE     REVIVALS 
OP    RELIGION,    UNDER    THEIR    MINISTRY. 


COLLECTED  AND  EDITED 


BT 


A.  ALEXANDER,  D.D. 


PRINCETON,  N.  J.: 

IPRINTED    BY    J.    T.    ROBINSON 
1845. 


Entered  according  to  the  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1845,  by 

ARCHIBALD  ALEXANDER,  D.D. 

in  the  Clerk's  OflBce  of  the  District  Court  of  the  Sute  of  New  Jersey. 


OPT  EIGHT  SECURED. 


DEDICATION. 


To  THE  Reverend  Presbytery  of  New  Bruns- 
wick. 

Dear  Brethren, 

There  is  a  propriety  in  dedicating  this 

book  to  you,  as  it  owes  its  existence  to  your  ap- 

,  ^pointment  of  the  author  to  dehver  a  centenary  dis- 

>I^  course  on  the  8th  of  August,  1838.     A  copy  of  this 

,  discourse  you  were  pic  ised  to  ask  for  pubUcation,  a 

^compliance   with  which  the  preacher  respectfully 

I  declined,  because  he  found  that  all  the  facts  and 

^  documents  relative  to  the  origin  of  the  New  Bruns- 

\  wick  Presbytery  could  not  be  included  in  a  single 
<^ 
»<  discourse  :  but  he  determined  to  make  use  of  such 

^  materials  as  he  possessed,  or  could  obtain,  to  form  n 
small  volume,  and  lay  it  before  your  reverend  body. 
'^This  purpose,  he  has  been  enabled,  imperfectly,  to 
V^carry  into  effect ;  and  he  now  solicits  your  candid 
and  favourable  attention  to  a  work,  which  is  in- 
tended to  give  the  people  of  the  present  age,  an  op- 


4  DEDICATION. 

portunity  of  seeing  what  the  state  oi  things  in  this 
region  was,  a  hundred  years  ago. 

As  most  of  those  connected  with  the  New  Bmns- 
M'ick  Presbytery,  in  its  earliest  days,  were  educated 
at  Mr.  Tennent's  School,  at  Neshaminy,  commonly 
called  the  Log  ('ollege,  to  give  some  appearance 
of  unity  to  the  work,  the  history  contained  in  it,  is 
connected  with  this  humble,  but  useful  Institution. 

And  as  the  time  when  this  Presbytery  had  its 
origin  was  a  period  favoured  with  remarkable  revi- 
vals of  religion  ;  and  the  men,  wlio  then  composed 
this  presbtery,  eminent  instruments,  in  carrying  for- 
ward this  good  work  ;  it  was  judged  to  be  expedient 
to  give  as  distinct  and  full  an  account  of  the  out- 
pouring of  the  Spirit  of  God,  in  those  days,  as  could 
now  be  obtained.  And  as  narratives  were  written 
by  those  most  intimately  conversant  with  this  great 
revival,  which  were  printed  in  books  now  rarely  to 
be  met  with ;  it  was  thought  best,  to  rescue  these  doc- 
uments from  oblivion,  and  give  them  unaltered,  in 
the  very  words  of  the  original  writers. 

The  editor  cannot  but  think^hat  the  biographical 
sketches  here  given  from  authentic  authorities,  will 
be  acceptable  to  the  present  members  of  the  Pres- 
bytery of  New  Brunswick:  and  he  is  persuaded. 


DEDICATION.  5 

that  the  congregations  in  which  the  displays  of 
divine  grace  were  so  wonderful,  a  century  past, 
will  be  benefited  by  a  perusal  of  the  narratives 
liere  given.*  Many  pious  people  among  us,  are  not 
aware  that  the  ground  on  which  they  tread  has,  as  it 
were,  been  hallowed  by  the  footsteps  of  the  Al- 
mighty. And  who  knows,  but  that  prayers  then 
offered  in  faith,  remain  yet  to  be  answered  ? 

The  author  would  only  observe  further,  that  he 
has  no  pecuniary  interest  in  the  sale  of  the  work ; 
but  all  the  profits  of  this  edition — if  any  should  ac- 
crue— are  devoted  to  assist  the  funds  of  the  Mount 
Lucas  Orphan  and  Guardian  Institute  :  which 
being  the  only  institution  in  the  state,  which  pro- 
poses to  make  provision  for  the  helpless  orphan, 
ought  not  to  be  suflered  to  languish  or  die,  for  want 
of  support;  and  such  an  institution  should  not  be 
viewed  with  indifference  by  the  New  Brunswick 
Presbytery,  If  no  other  motive  will  induce  the 
members  to  be  active  in  giving  circulation  to  this 
volume,  he  hopes  this  will  not  be  without  its  influ- 
ence. "  Pure  religion  and  undefiled  before  God 
and  the  Father  is  this,  to  visit  the  fatherless  and 
widows  in  their  afiliction,  and  keep  himself  unspot- 
ted from  the  world."     "  In  as  much  as  ye  did  it  to 


6  DEDICATION. 

tlic  least  of  these  my  brethren,  ye  did  it  unto  me." 
God  is  the  Father  of  the  fatherless,  and  would  have 
his  ministers  attentive  to  the  poor  and  afflicted. 
I  am  with  sincere  regard, 

Vour  brother  in  the  gospel  of  Christ. 

A.  A 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 
THE  LOG  COLLEGE.     . 


CHAPTER  H. 

MEMOIR  OF  REV.  WM.  TENNENT,  SEN.         .        .         18 

CHAPTER  HI. 
MEMOIR  OF  REV.  GILBERT  TENNENT.  .         .         33 

CHAPTER  IV. 
MEMOIR  OF  REV.  GILBERT  TENNENT,  Continued.        53 

CHAPTER  V. 
MEMOIR  OF  REV.  GILBERT  TENNENT,  Continued.       74 

CHAPTER  VI. 

MEMOIR  OF  REV.  GILBERT  TENNENT,  Concluded.        96 

CHAPTER  VII. 

THE  NEW  LONDON  SCHOOL 10« 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  TENNENT.      .        .        .        128 

CHAPTER  IX. 

REV.  WM.  TENNENT'S  LETTER.  .        .        114 


8  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  X. 

MEMOIR  OF  REV.  WM.  TENNENT,  JR.  .         iJil 

CHAPTER  XI. 
REMARKS  ON  THE  PRECEDING  NARRATIVE.    .        222 

CHAPTER  XH. 

ANECDOTES  OF  REV.  WM.  TENNENT.  ,        232 

CHAPTER  XHI. 

MEMOIR  OF  REV.  CHARLES  TENNENT.      .  248 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
MEMOIR  OF  REV.  SAMUEL  BLAIR.        .        .        .         264 

CHAPTER  XV. 

MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  BLAIR 293 

CHAPTER  XVI. 
MEMOIR  OF  REV.  SAMUEL  FINLEY,  D.D.     .        .        302 

CHAPTER  XVII. 
MEMOIR  OF  REV.  WM.  ROBINSON.  318 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  ROWLAND.  341 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

MEMOIR  OF  REV.  CHARLES  BEATTY.  357 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE  LOG  COLLEGE. 

Association  gives  interest  to  places — Log  College — Name — Site — 
Size — Utter  Desolation — Country  around — Dr.  James  P.  Wilson — 
Relic — Suggestion  of  a  monument — Importance  of  the  Institution: 

By  association,  objects  which  have  nothing  inter- 
esting in  themselves,  acquire  an  importance,  by  rea- 
son of  the  persons  or  things  which  they  constantly 
suggest  to  our  minds.  The  rock  of  Plymouth  has 
nothing  in  it  which  renders  it  intrinsically  superior 
to  thousands  of  other  rocks  in  the  country ;  and  the 
site  of  Jamestown,  has  nothing  but  its  interesting 
associations,  to  engage  the  attention  of  any  one. 
But  these  spots,  as  being  the  first  habitations  of  the 
European  settlers,  in  this  part  of  the  new  world,  arc 
invested  with  an  interest  which  is  felt  by  all ;  and  this 
interest,  instead  of  growing  weaker  by  the  lapse  of 
time,  gathers  new  strength,  every  year.  Indeed,  it  is 
only  a  recent  thing,  that  the  public  attention  has  been 
particularly  called  to  these  objects.  And  though 
there  may  be  an  excess  in  the  emotions  cherished 
by  some,  and  an  affectation  of  lively  interest  in  oth- 
ers ;  yet,  it  cannot  be  doubted,  that  there  is  a  founda- 
B 


10  THK    LOO    COLLEGL'. 

tion  in  liuiuan  naliin-  lor  the  interest  which  is  exci- 
ted by  particular  objects,  places,  and  scenes.     And 
the  more  intimately  these  associations  arc  related  to 
religion,  the  deeper  and  more  permanent  the  feeling 
becomes.     By  the  abiTse  of  this  principle  much  su- 
perstition has  been  generated  ;  but  the  moderate  and 
judicious  use  of  it  may,  imdoubtedly,  be  conducive 
to  piety.     Sacred,  or  holy  places,  figure  largely  in  all 
false  systems  of  religion  ;  and  under  the  old  dispen- 
sation, the  people  of  God  were  encouraged  to  rev- 
erence those  places  where  the  worship  of  God  was 
appointed  to  be  celebrated.     Under  the  gospel  dis- 
pensation, it  is  true,  we  have  no  holy  places  or 
houses,  to  which  the  worship  of  God  is  confmed ; 
but  in  every  place,  whether  by  sea  or  land  ;  whether 
m  the  grove,  on  the  mountain  top,  or  in  the  open 
field,  or  the  lonely  vale,  God  may  be  worshipped. 
Yet,  who  does  not  entertain  peculiar  feelings  of  in- 
terest in  relation  to  those  places,  where  Christ  was 
born — where  he  was  brought  up — where  he  preached 
and  wrought  miracles — but,  especially,  where  he 
suffered  and  died,  and  where  he  was  buried  and 
arose  again — and  where  he  ascended  to  heaven,  in 
the  presence  of  his  disciples  ?     This  feelhig  is  natu- 
ral, and  associated  with  love  to  Christ,  but  it  readily 
becomes  excessive,  and  degenerates  into  superstition. 
There  never  was  a  book  in  which  there  is  so  little 
to  foster  superstition,  as  tlic  Bible.     We  never  there 
read  of  the  apostles,  when  they  came  up  to  Jem- 


THE    LOG    COLLEGE.  11 

salem,  resorting  to  any  of  these  places,  or  express- 
ing the  smallest  degree  of  veneration  for  them.  The 
natural  tendency  of  the  human  mind  seems  to  have 
been  counteracted,  for  the  very  purpose  of  prevent- 
ing superstition  ;  just  as  the  natural  passions  of  the 
evangelists  seem  to  have  been  restrained,  in  writing 
the  gospels. 

Of  late,  considerable  curiosity  has  ben  manifested 
to  ascertain  the  place  where  the  first  Presbyterian 
church,  in  this  country,  was  formed ;  and  the  his- 
tory of  the  first  Presbyterian  preacher  who  came  to 
America,  which  had  sunk  into  oblivion,  has,  of  late, 
been  brought  prominently  into  view.  Such  re- 
searches, when  unaccompanied  with  boasting  and 
vainglory,  are  laudable.  And  to  gratify  a  similar 
curiosity,  in  regard  to  the  first  literary  institution, 
above  common  schools,  in  the  bounds  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church,  this  small  hook  has  been  com- 
piled. That  institution,  we  believe,  was,  what  has 
received  the  name  of,  THE  LOG  COLLEGE.  The 
reason  of  tlie  epithet  prefixed  to  the  word  "college," 
might  be  obscure  to  an  European  ;  but  in  this  coun- 
try, where  log-cabins  are  so  numerous,  will  be  intel- 
ligible to  all  classes  of  readers.  This  edifice,  which 
was  made  of  logs,  cut  out  of  the  woods,  probably, 
from  the  very  spot  where  the  house  was  erected, 
was  situated  in  Bucks  county,  Pennsylvania,  about 
twenty-eight  miles  north  of  Philadelphia.  The  Log 
College  has  long  since  disappeared  ;  so  that  although 


12  I'liK   Loc   (  ()i,lk(;k, 

tlie  site  on  which  it  stood  is  well  known  to  many  in  the 
vicinity,  there  is  not  a  vestige  of  it  remaining  on  the 
ground ;  and  no  appearance  which  would  indicate 
that  a  house  ever  stood  there.  The  fact  is,  that  some 
owner  of  the  property,  never  dreaming  that  there 
was  any  thing  sacred  in  the  logs  of  this  humble  ed- 
ifice, had  them  carried  away  and  applied  to  some 
ignoble  purpose  on  the  farm,  where  they  have  rot- 
ted away  like  common  timber,  from  which,  if  any 
of  them  remain,  they  can  no  longer  be  distinguished. 
But  that  some  small  relic  of  this  venerable  building 
might  be  preserved,  the  late  Presbyterian  minister 
of  the  place.  Rev.  Robert  B.  Belville,  some  years  ago, 
rescued  from  the  common  ruin  so  much  of  one  of 
these  logs,  as  enabled  him,  by  paring  off  the  decayed 
parts,  to  reduce  it  to  something  of  the  form  of  a 
walking  staff ;  which  as  a  token  of  respect,  and  for 
safe  keeping,  he  presented  to  one  of  the  oldest  Pro- 
fessors* of  the  Theological  Seminary,  at  Princeton, 
N.  J.,  in  whose  possession  it  now  remains,  and  who 
will,  it  is  hoped,  before  he  leaves  the  world,  deposit  it 
in  the  cabinet  of  curiosities,  which  has  been  formed, 
in  connexion  with  the  Theological  Seminary. 

The  site  of  the  Log  College  is  about  a  mile  from 
that  part  of  Neshaminy  creek,  where  the  Presbyte- 
rian church  has  long  stood.  The  ground  near  and 
aroimd  it,  lies  handsomely  to  the  eye ;  and  the  more 

*  Rev.  Dr.  Miller. 


THB    LOG    COLLEGE.  13 

distant  prospect  is  very  beautiful ;  for  while  there  is 
a  considerable  extent  of  fertile,  Avell  cultivated  land, 
nearly  level,  the  view  is  bounded,  to  the  north  and 
west,  by  a  range  of  hills,  which  have  a  very  pleas- 
ing appearance. 

It  may  not  be  improper  to  observe,  that  the  late 
Rev.  James  P.  Wilson,  D.  D.,  long,  the  learned  and 
admired  pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church, 
in  Philadelphia,  was  so  pleased  with  the  SH:enery 
and  circumstances  of  this  neighbourhood,  that  he 
purchased  a  small  farm,  which  is,  I  believe,  as 
near  to  the  site  of  the  Log  College  as  any  other 
dwelling,  except  the  one  on  the  farm  on  which  it 
was  built.  To  this  farm  he  retired  when  no  longer 
able,  through  bodily  weakness,  to  fulfil  the  ardu- 
ous duties  of  the  pastoral  office.  And  here,  in  calm 
serenity,  he  spent  the  last  years  of  his  life.  And, 
as  we  are  informed,  one  of  his  sons  still  occupies 
the  house,  and  is  the  pastor  of  one  part  of  the  now 
divided  congregation  of  Neshamin^'. 

If  I  were  fond  of  projects,  I  would  propose,  that 

a  monument  be  erected  to  the  Founder  of  the  Log 

College  on  the  very  site  where  the  building  stood, 

if  the  land  could  be  purchased  ;  but  at  any  rate,  a 

stone  with  an  inscription  might  be  permanently  fixed 

on,  or  near  the  ground.     The  tradition  respecting 

this  humble  institution  of  learning,  exists,  not  only 

in  the  neighbourhood,  but  has  been  extended  far  to 

the  south  and  west. 

Bl 


14  THE    I,OG    rOLLEGK. 

The  first  Presbyterian  ministers,  in  this  country, 
were  nearly  all  men  of  liberal  education.  Some  had 
received  their  education  in  the  universities  of  Scot- 
land ;  some  in  Ireland  ;  and  others  at  one  of  the  New 
England  colleges.  And  though  there  existed  such  a 
destitution  of  ministers  in  this  new  country,  they  ne- 
ver thought  of  introducing  any  man  into  the  ministry, 
who  had  not  received  a  college  or  university  educa- 
tion ;  except  in  very  extraordinary  cases  ;  of  which, 
I  believe,  we  have  but  one  instance  in  the  early  his- 
tory of  the  Presbyterian  church.  This  was  the  case 
of  a  Welshman  by  the  name  of  Evans,  who,  living 
in  a  place  called  the  Welsh  Tract,  where  the  people 
had  no  public  means  of  grace,  began  to  speak  to 
them  of  the  things  of  God,  on  the  Sabbath,  and  at 
other  times  ;  and  his  labours  were  so  acceptable  and 
useful,  that  the  presbytery,  after  a  full  trial  of  his 
abilities,  licensed  him  to  preach,  and  afterwards  or- 
dained him  to  the  whole  work  of  the  ministry. 
There  is,  indeed,  another  case  that  may  possibly  fall 
into  this  class.  "  The  people  of  Cape  ISIay  were 
without  a  pastor ;  Mr.  Bradner,  a  candidate  for  the 
ministry,  was  willing  to  serve  them,  but  had  no  au- 
thority to  preach.  In  this  emergency,  three  of  the 
nearest  ministers,  Messrs.  Davis,  Hampton,  and  Hen- 
ry, on  their  own  responsibility,  examined  and  li- 
censed him,"*     But  as  he  was  before  a  candidate, 

*  See  Records  of  the  Synod  of  Philadelphia. 


THE    LOG    rOLLEOF.  15 

and  a  Scotchman,  there  is  a  strong  probabihty  tlial 
he  was  a  Uberally  educated  man. 

There  seems  to  be  no  written  record  of  the  exis- 
tence of  such  an  edifice  as  that  which  we  are  describ- 
ing by  any  contemporary  writer,  exceptin  the  journal 
of  Rev.  George  Whitefield,  the  celebrated  evan- 
gehst,  who  traversed  -this  country,  several  times ; 
preaching,  every  where,  with  a  popularity  and 
success,  which  have  never  been  equalled  by  any 
other.  It  will  be  proper,  therefore,  to  extract  the 
paragraph  which  relates  to  this  subject;  as  he 
gives  the  dimensions  of  the  building,  and  express- 
ly says  that  it  had  obtained  the  name  of"  the  col- 
lege." "  The  place,"  says  he,  "  wherein  the  young 
men  study  now,  is  in  contempt  called,  the  college. 
It  is  a  log  house,  about  twenty  foot  long,  and  near 
as  many  broad ;  and  to  me  it  seemed  to  resemble 
the  school  of  the  old  prophets ;  for  their  habitations 
were  mean  ;  and  that  they  sought  not  great  things 
for  themselves  is  plain,  from  those  passages  of  scrip- 
ture, wherein  we  are  told,  that  each  of  them  took 
them  a  beam  to  build  them  a  house  :  and  that  at  the 
feast  of  the  sons  of  the  prophets,  one  of  them  put  on 
the  pot,  whilst  the  others  went  to  fetch  some  herbs 
out  of  the  field.  All  that  we  can  say  of  most  of  our 
universities  is,  they  are  glorious  Avithout.  From 
this  despised  place,  seven  or  eight  worthy  ministers 
of  Jesus  have  lately  been  sent  forth  ;  more  are  al- 
most ready  to  be  sent,  and  the  foundation  is  now 
B2 


IS  THE    LOO    COLLEGK. 

laying  for  the  instruction  of  many  others."  The 
Journal  from  which  the  preceding  extract  is  taken, 
was  printed  in  Philadelphia,  by  Benjamin  Franklin, 
the  same  year  in  which  Mr.  Whitefield  visited  the 
Log  College.  From  this  testimony  it  appears,  that 
the  name  college,  was  given  to  the  building  out  of 
contempt,  by  its  enemies  :  but  in  this,  as  in  many 
other  things,  that  which  is  lightly  esteemed  among 
men,  is  precious  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord.  Though 
as  poor  a  house  as  perhaps  was  ever  erected  for  the 
purpose  of  giving  a  liberal  education,  it  was  in  a 
noble  sense,  a  college  ;  a  fountain,  from  which,  as 
we  shall  see  hereafter,  proceeded  streams  of  bless- 
ings to  the  church.  We  shall  again  have  occasion 
to  advert  to  Mr.  Whitefield's  Journal,  when  we 
come  to  speak  of  the  founder  of  this  college ;  but  we 
shall  now  proceed  to  fniish  what  we  have  to  say 
respecting  the  site  and  the  building. 

When  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  in  the  United  States,  determined,  in  the 
year  181 1,  to  establish  a  Theological  Seminary,  for 
the  more  thorough  training  of  her  candidates  for  the 
sacred  office,  there  was  much  diversity  of  opinion 
respecting  the  most  eligible  site  for  the  institution. 
Between  Princeton,  N.  J.,  and  Chambersburg,  Pa.,  the 
chief  competition  existed  ;  but  there  were  a  few  per- 
sons, who  were  strongly  in  favour  of  placing  it  on  the 
very  site  of  the  Log  College.  The  Rev.  Nathaniel 
Irwm,  then  pastor  of  the  church  at  Neshaminy,  and 


THE   LOG    COLLEGE.  17 

a  man  of  profound  understanding,  was  earnestly  de- 
sirous that  it  should  be  planted  on  the  ground,  where 
a  building  had  once  stood,  to  which  the  Presbyte- 
rian church  owes  so  much.  And  to  manifest  his 
sincerity  and  zeal,  Mr.  Irwin  left,  in  his  will,  a  con- 
siderable bequest*  to  the  seminary,  on  condition  that 
it  should  be  ultimately  located  on  this  site. 

*  $1000. 


H3 


CHAPTEE  II. 

MEMOIR   OF   REV.  WM.   TENNENT,   SEN. 

Rev.  Wm.  Tcnncnt,scn. — A  minister  of  ihe  Irish  Episcopal  chuich — 
Emigrates  with  his  family  to  America — Applies  for  admission  into 
the  synod  and  is  received — Settles  permanently  at  Xeshaminy — 
Erects  the  Log  College — Visits  Whitefield,  and  is  visited  by  him — 
His  character  and  death. 

We  come  now  to  give  some  account  of  the  found- 
er of  the  Log  College.  The  Rev.  WiUiam  Ten- 
nent,  sen.,  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  where  he  was 
brought  up  and  received  a  Uberal  education  ;  but  at 
what  college,  or  university,  is  not  known.  It  is  pro- 
bable, however,  that  he  obtained  his  learning  at 
Trinity  College,  Dublin,  as  he  belonged  originally  to 
the  Episcopal  Church  of  Ireland,  in  which  he  took 
orders.  After  entering  the  holy  ministry,  he  acted 
as  chaplain  to  an  Irish  nobleman.  But  there  is  no 
evidence  that  he  was  ever  settled  over  a  parish  in 
that  country ;  the  reason  assigned,  by  the  author  of 
the  Memoir  of  Wm.  Tennent,  jr.,  was  that  he  could 
not  conscientiously  conform  to  the  terms  imposed  on 
the  clergy  of  that  kingdom.  He  remained  in  Ireland 
until  he  was  past  middle  age.  The  truth  is,  that  very 
little  is  Imown  of  Mr.  Tennent,  until  he  arrived  in 


THE    REV.  WM.    TENNEXT,    SEN.  19 

America.  From  Dr.  Elias  Boudinot,  who  was  very 
intimate  with  the  whole  family,  we  learn,  that  Mr. 
Tennent,in  Ireland,  became  acquainted  with  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Kennedy,  a  distinguished  Presbyterian  preacher, 
who  having  suffered  persecution  in  his  own  country, 
exercised  his  ministry  in  Holland,  with  great  success. 
The  only  other  notice  of  this  zealous  and  evangelical 
preacher  which  has  been  found  is,  in  the  "  Vindica- 
tion" of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Blair,  in  which,  speaking 
of  the  objections  made  to  the  revival,  he  says,  «  Se- 
veral have  very  sufficiently  answered  the  objections 
against  the  work  itself,  as  Mr.  Edwards  in  New 
England,  Mr.  Dickinson  in  New  Jersey,  Mr.  Finley 
in  Pennsylvania,  Mr.  Robe  and  Mr.  Webster  in 
Scotland,  and  Mr.  Kennedy  in  Holland."  He  then 
remarks,  that  Mr.  Kennedy  had  published  JNIr.  Ed- 
wards' "  Narrative,"  with  attestations  from  Scotland, 
translated  by  him  into  the  Dutch  language.  It  would 
be  very  desirable  to  obtain  some  further  information 
of  this  ISIr.  Kennedy,  who  is  spoken  of  as  a  man  of 
like  spirit  with  Edwards,  and  Dickinson,  and  Robe, 
and  Webster,  and  Finley.  But,  probably,  there  re- 
mains no  earthly  record  of  his  labours,  his  sufferings, 
and  successes.  * 

Our  attention  has  been  directed  to  this  man,  not 
merely  because    Mr.  Tennent    became   acquainted 

*  In  Wodrow's  Church  History,  we  have  frequent  mention 
of  a  Mr.  Kennedy,  a  celebrated  evangelical  minister  in  Ire- 
land ;  and  also  in  Reid's  History  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
in  Ireland. 


JO  THE    REV.    VVM.    TENNENT,    SEN. 

with  him,  but  especially,  because  he  married  his 
daughter,  who  was  the  mother  of  his  four  sons,  and 
emigrated  with  him  to  America.  And  it  is  exceed- 
ingly probable,  that  from  this  man  Mr.  Tenncnt 
imbibed  his  love  of  the  Presbyterian  system.  Mr. 
Tennent's  oldest  son,  was  no  doubt  called  after 
his  grandfather  Kennedy,  whose  name  was,  Gilbert. 
In  the  Memoir  of  William  Tennent,  jr.  it  is  said, 
that  his  father  arrived  in  America,  in  the  year  1718; 
but  in  the  sketch  of  the  hfe  of  Gilbert  Tennent,  in 
the  Assembly's  Magazine,  for  May,  1805,  "that  he 
came  over  in  1716,"  which  last,  is  believed  to  be  the 
more  accurate  statement.  Upon  his  arrival,  he  set- 
tled first  in  the  state  of  New  York,  where  he  resided 
for  some  time  at  East  Chester ;  and  then  at  Bedford. 
Not  long  after  his  immigration  to  America,  Mr.  Ten- 
nent applied  to  the  synod  of  Philadelphia,  to  be  re- 
ceived, as  a  minister,  into  their  connexion.  The  syn- 
od did  not  act  hastily  in  this  affair,  but  after  full 
deliberation,  agreed  to  receive  JNIr.  Tennent  as  a 
member  of  their  body.  Before  doing  this,  however, 
they  required  him  to  lay  before  them,  in  writing,  the 
reasons  which  had  induced  him  to  separate  himself 
from  the  Episcopal  Church.  And  these  reasons 
were  ordered  to  be  entered  on  record.  The  minute 
of  the  synod,  as  found  in  the  printed  book  of  records 
of  the  Presbyterian  church,  is  as  follows  :  <'  Mr.  Wil- 
liam Tennent's  affair  being  transmitted  by  the  com- 
mittee [of  overtures]  to  the  Synod,  was  by  them 


THE    REV.    WM.    TENNENT,    SEN.  21 

fully  considered,  being  well  satisfied  with  liis  creden- 
tials, and  the  testimony  of  some  brethren  here  pre- 
sent ;  as  also,  they  were  satisfied  with  the  material 
reasons  which  he  offered  concerning  his  dissenting 
from  the  established  church  of  Ireland  ;  being  put  to 
a  vote  of  the  synod,  it  was  carried  in  the  affirmative 
to  admit  him  as  a  member  of  the  synod.  Ordered, 
that  his  reasons  be  inserted  on  the  synod  book  ad 
futuram  rei  memoriam.  The  synod  also  ordered, 
that  the  moderator  should  give  him  a  serious  exhor- 
tation to  continue  steadfast  in  his  now  holy  profes- 
sion ; — which  was  done." 

This  transaction  took  place  on  the  17th  day  of 
September,  1718:  it  is  probable,  however,  that  Mr. 
Tennent's  application  was  first  made  to  the  synod, 
the  previous  year ;  although  nothing  appears  on  the 
records  relative  to  this  matter.  But  in  the  short  ac- 
count of  the  Rev.  William  Tennent,  sen.,  in  the  As- 
sembly's Magazine,  it  is  stated,  that  after  some  de- 
lay" he  was  received.  And  the  minute  recited 
above,  seems  to  speak  of  it  as  a  thing  before  under 
consideration  ;  for  it  would  be  very  abrupt  and  un- 
usual, to  speak  of  a  first  application  m  the  language 
here  used — "  Mr.  Tennent's  affair,"  &c.,  without 
any  notice  of  any  application  made  by  him.  It  is 
probable  that  the  application  to  synod  was  made  in 
the  year  1717,  which  was  the  next  year  after  his 
arrival. 

Whether  Mr.  Tcmient  had  the  pastoral  care  of  a 


23  THE    REV.    Wll.    TENNENT,    SEX. 

church  hi  the  state  of  Now  York,  docs  not  appear; 
but  about  the  year  1721,  he  received  an  invitation 
to  settle  at  Bensalem,  in  Bucks  county,  Pennsylvania, 
to  which  place  he  removed  his  family,  and  continued 
to  supply  that  small  Presbyterian  congregation,  until 
the  year  1726,  when  he  received  a  call  to  the  Presby- 
terian church  at  Neshaminy,  in  the  same  county.  In 
this  place,  he  continued  the  remainder  of  his  hfe. 
And  here,  within  a  few  steps  of  his  own  dwelling, 
he  erected  the  building  which  has  already  been  de- 
scribed ;  which  though  humble  and  even  despicable 
in  its  external  appearance,  was  an  institution  of  un- 
speakable importance  to  the  Presbyterian  church,  in 
this  country. 

It  may  be  proper  to  remark,  in  this  place,  that 
from  all  the  accounts  which  we  have,  it  appears, 
that  at  this  time,  the  state  of  vital  piety  was  very 
low  in  the  Presbyterian  church  in  America.  And 
the  same  was  true  of  the  churches  in  New  England. 
And  this  was  remarkably  the  fact  in  regard  to 
Great  Britain.  The  ministers  composing  the  Pres- 
byterian church,  in  this  country,  were  sound  in  the 
faith,  and  strongly  attached  to  the  Westminster  Con- 
fession of  Faith  and  Catechisms,  as  were  also  their 
people  ;  and  there  were  no  diversities  or  contentions 
among  them  respecting  the  doctrines  of  the  gospel ; 
but  as  to  the  vital  power  of  godliness,  there  is  reason 
to  believe,  that  it  was  little  known  or  spoken  of. 
Revivals  of  religion  were  nowhere  heard  of,  and 


THE  REV.  WM.  TENNENT,  SEN.        23 

an  orthodox  creed,  and  a  decent  external  conduct 
were  the  only  points  on  which  inquiry  was  made, 
when  persons  were  admitted  to  the  communion  of 
the  church.  Indeed,  it  was  very  much  a  matter  of 
course  for  all  who  had  been  baptised  in  infancy,  to 
be  received  into  full  communion  at  the  proper  age, 
without  exhibiting  or  possessing  any  satisfactory 
evidence  of  a  change  of  heart,  by  the  supernatural 
operations  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  And  the  habit  of  the 
preachers  was,  to  address  their  people  as  though 
they  were  all  pious,  and  only  needing  instruction 
and  confirmation.  It  was  not  a  common  thing  to 
denounce  the  terrors  of  a  violated  law,  and  to  insist 
on  the  absolute  necessity  of  regeneration.  Under 
such  a  state  of  things,  it  is  easy  to  conceive,  that  in 
a  short  time  vital  piety  may  have  almost  deserted 
the  church,  and  that  formality  and  "dead  ortho- 
doxy" be  all  that  was  left  of  religion.  And  nothing 
is  more  certain,  than  that  when  people  have  sunk 
into  this  deplorable  state,  they  will  be  disposed  to 
manifest  strong  opposition  to  faithful,  pointed  preach- 
ing; and  will  be  apt  to  view  every  appearance  of 
revival  with  an  unfavourable  eye.  Accordingly, 
when  God  raised  up  preachers,  animated  with  a 
burning  zeal,  who  laboured  faithfully  to  convince 
their  hearers  of  their  ruined  condition,  and  of  the 
necessity  of  a  thorough  conversion  from  sin,  the  op- 
position to  them,  both  in  Great  Britain  and  this 
country,  was  violent.     The  gospel,  among  people 


24  THK   ncv.   u^r.  tennent,  sen, 

in  sucli  a  condition,  is  sure  to  produce  strife  and  di- 
vision, between  those  who  fall  under  its  influence, 
and  those  wliosc  carnal  minds  urge  them  to  oppose 
it.  It  was  in  such  a  state  of  the  church  that  Mr. 
Tennent  came  to  this  country.  What  his  own  course 
of  rehgious  experience  had  been,  we  have  no  infor- 
mation ;  but  he  seems  to  have  imbibed  a  warm, 
evangelical  spirit,  and  to  have  been,  in  this  country, 
distinguished  for  his  zeal  and  efibrts  in  promoting 
vital  piety.  When  Mr.  Whitefield  first  visited  Phil- 
adelphia, Mr.  Tennent  lost  no  time  in  calling  upon 
him.  Though  he  lived  nearly  thirty  miles  from 
Philadelphia,  yet  no  sooner  did  he  hear  of  the  arri- 
val of  this  evangelical  and  successful  preacher,  than 
taking  with  him  some  of  his  pious  friends,  he  re- 
paired to  the  city,  and  from  Mr.  Whitefield's  Jour- 
nal, we  learn,  that  the  visit  was  very  acceptable  to 
him ;  for  he  says,  "  At  my  return  home,  [from  visit- 
ing a  family]  was  much  comforted  by  the  coming 
of  one  Mr.  Tennent,  an  old  gray-headed  disciple  and 
soldier  of  Jesus  Christ.  lie  keeps  an  academy  about 
twenty  miles  from  Philadelphia,  and  has  been  blessed 
with  four  gracious  sons,  three  of  which  have  been, 
and  still  continue  to  be,  eminently  useful  in  the 
church  of  Christ.  He  brought  three  pious  souls 
along  with  him,  and  rejoiced  me  by  letting  me  know 
how  they  had  been  spoken  evil  of  for  their  Master's 
sake.  He  is  a  great  friend  of  Mr.  Erskine,  of  Scot- 
land ;  and  as  far  as  I  can  learn,  both  he  and  his  sons, 


THE    REV.    \VM.    TENNENT,    SEN.  25 

are  secretly  despised  by  the  generality  of  the  synod, 
as  Mr.  Erskine  and  his  friends  are  hated  by  the 
judicatories  of  Edinburgh,  and  as  the  Methodist 
preachers  (as  they  are  called)  are,  by  their  bretliren 
in  England."  This  testimony  of  Mr.  Whitefield 
goes  to  show,  that  the  course  pursued  by  old  Mr. 
Tennent  and  his  sons,  was  different  from  that  of  the 
other  ministers  of  the  synod,  to  whom  he  stood  in 
the  same  relation,  as  Whitefield,  Wesley,  and  their 
coadjutors,  to  the  great  body  of  the  clergy  in  Eng- 
land. Mr.  Whitefield,  on  his  return  from  New 
York,  went  to  Neshaminy,  and  spent  some  days 
with  Mr.  Tennent. 

Here  again  we  are  glad  to  have  the  opportunity 
of  using  the  very  words  of  Mr.  Whitefield. 

"  Nov.  22.  [1739.]  Set  out  for  Neshaminy,  (twenty 
miles  distant  from  Trent  Town,)  where  old  Mr. 
Tennent  lives,  and  keeps  an  academy,  and  where  I 
was  to  preach,  to  day,  according  to  appointment. 
About  12  [o'clock]  we  came  thither,  and  found 
about  three  thousand  people  gathered  together,  in 
the  meeting-house  yard.  Mr.  William  Tennent,  [jr.] 
an  eminent  servant  of  Jesus  Christ,  because  we 
staid  beyond  the  time  appointed,  was  preaching  to 
them.  When  I  came  up,  he  soon  stopt;  sung  a 
psalm,  and  then  I  began  to  speak,  as  the  Lord  gave 
me  utterance.  At  first,  the  people  seemed  unaffect- 
ed, but  ill  the  midst  of  my  discourse,  the  power  of 
the  Lord  Jesus  came  upon  mc,  and  I  felt  such  a 


26  IHK     KKV.     \VM.    TKXNEXT,    SEN. 

Struggling  within  myself  for  the  people,  as  I  scarce 
ever  felt  before.  The  hearers  began  to  be  melted 
down  immediately,  and  to  cry  much ;  and  we  had 
good  reason  to  hope  the  Lord  intended  good  for 
many.  After  I  had  fniished,  Mr.  Gilbert  Tennent 
gave  a  word  of  exhortation,  to  confirm  what  had 
been  delivered.  At  the  end  of  his  discourse,  we 
sung  a  psalm,  and  dismissed  the  people  with  a  bless- 
ing, 0  that  the  people  may  say  amen  to  it !  After 
our  exercises  were  over  we  went  to  old  Mr.  Ten- 
nent's,  who  entertained  us  like  one  of  the  ancient 
patriarchs.  His  wife,  to  me  seemed  like  Elizabeth, 
and  he  like  Zachary ;  both,  as  far  as  I  can  learn, 
walk  in  all  the  commandments  and  ordinances  of 
the  Lord,  blameless.  Though  God  was  pleased  to 
humble  my  soul,  so  that  I  was  obliged  to  retire  for 
a  while ;  yet  we  had  sweet  communion  with  each 
other,  and  spent  the  evening  in  concerting  what 
measures  had  best  be  taken,  for  promoting  our  dear 
Lord's  kingdom.  It  happened  very  providentially, 
that  Mr.  Tennent  and  his  brethren  are  appointed  to 
be  a  presbytery,  by  the  synod,  so  that  they  intend 
bringing  up  gracious  youths,  and  sending  them  out 
from  time  to  time,  into  the  Lord's  vineyard.  The 
place,  wherein  the  young  men  study  now  is,  in  con- 
tempt, called,  THE  COLLEGE,  &c.  Friday,  Nov.  23, 
parted  with  dear  Mr.  Temient,and  his  other  worthy 
fellow-labourers;  but  promised  to  remember  each 
other  publicly  in  our  prayers." 


THE    KEV.    WM.    TENNENT,    SEN.  27 

From  the  preceding  extract  we  learn,  that  Mr. 
Tennent  was  a  man  of  congenial  spirit  with  Mr. 
Whitefield,  and  that  he  was  held  in  high  esteem  by 
this  distinguished  preacher  and  devoted  servant  of 
God.  Of  scarcely  any  other  minister,  of  any  denomi- 
nation, does  he  make  so  honourable  a  mention,  and 
to  no  other  in  this  region,  did  he  pay  so  respectful  an 
attention.  It  is  certain,  from  the  foregoing  account, 
that  JNIr.  Tennent  was  distinguished  among  his 
brethren,  as  the  open  and  zealous  friend  of  vital 
piety,  and  of  revivals  of  religion.  The  character  of 
his  public  preaching  is  nowhere  given,  and  we  are 
left  to  infer  it  from  his  character ;  or  rather  from  the 
character  of  his  pupils,  of  whom  an  account  will  be 
given,  hereafter.  As  a  classical  scholar,  there  can 
be  no  doubt  of  his  eminence.  The  late  Hon.  Elias 
Boudinot,  LL.  D.,  who  knew  him  well,  says,  "  that 
he  was  well  skilled  in  the  Latin  language,  that  he 
could  speak  and  converse  in  it  with  as  much  faciHty, 
as  in  his  vernacular  tongue,  and  also,  that  he  was  a 
proficient  in  the  other  ancient  languages.  In  con- 
firmation of  what  he  says  about  his  skill  in  the  Latin 
language,  he  relates,  that  at  the  next  meeting  of  the 
Synod  of  Philadelphia  after  his  reception,  he  deliv- 
ered before  that  body,  an  elegant  Latin  oration 
The  writer  of  a  sketch  of  the  life  of  the  Rev.  Gilbert 
Tennent,  inserted  in  the  May  number  of  the  Assem- 
bly's Magazine,  for  the  year  1805,  says,  respecting 

the  Rev.  William  Tennent,  sen.:  "  He  was  eminent 

C 


28  THE    KEV.    WM.    TENNE^T,    SES. 

as  a  classical  scholar.  His  attainments  in  science 
arc  not  so  well  known ;  but  there  is  reason  to  be- 
lieve they  were  not  so  great  as  his  skill  in  language. 
His  general  character  appears  to  have  been  that  of 
a  man  of  great  integrity,  simplicity,  industry,  and 
piety.' ^ 

Mr.  Tennent  was,  by  his  position  at  Neshaminy, 
a  member  of  the  presbytery  of  Philadelphia  ;  but 
when  the  division  of  the  synod  took  place,  he  at- 
tached himself  to  the  New  Brunswick  presbytery, 
to   which  his  sons  Gilbert  and  William  belonged. 

It  appears  from  the  published  records  of  the  synod 
of  Philadelphia,  that  in  the  year  1737,  a  complaint 
was  made  to  the  synod,  by  a  part  of  the  congrega- 
tion of  Neshaminy,  against  the  Rev.  William  Ten- 
nent, their  pastor  ;  and  also  an  answer  to  the  same, 
from  another  part  of  the  said  congregation.  Both 
of  these  papers  were  read,  article  by  article,  and 
both  parties  heard  at  length  what  they  had  to  say. 
Mr.  Thomson  was  directed  to  prepare  a  minute 
which  should  express  the  mind  of  the  synod,  in  re- 
lation to  this  matter  ;  which  being  done,  was  adop- 
ted, viz.  "  That  the  reasons  advanced  by  the  disaf- 
fected party  of  that  congregation,  in  justification  of 
their  non-compliance  with  the  synod's  judgment  in 
relation  to  them,  last  year,  and  their  desire  to  be 
freed  from  Mr.  Tennent  as  their  pastor,  are  utterly 
insufficient,  being  founded  (as  appears  to  us),  partly 
upon  ignorance  and  mistake,  and  partly  (as  we  fear) 


THE    HEV.    WM.    TENNEKT,    SEN.  29 

upon  prejudice.  It  is  therefore  ordered,  that  the 
moderator  recommend  it  to  said  people  to  lay  aside 
such  groundless  dissatisfactions  and  return  to  their 
duty,  which  the^?-  have  too  long  strayed  from  ;  other- 
wise the  synod  will  be  bound  to  treat  them  as  disor- 
derly."    This  minute  was  unanimously  approved. 

The  matter  referred  to,  as  having  been  before  the 
synod  the  preceding  year,  was,  that  though  Mr. 
Tennent  had  so  long  acted  as  the  pastor  of  the 
church  at  Neshaminy,  he  had  never  been  formally 
installed.  In  regard  to  which,  the  synod  had  come 
to  ti-ie  following  judgment:  "That  it  appears  evi- 
dent to  the  synod,  that  Mr.  T«nnent  having  in  all 
respects  acted  and  been  esteemed,  aiid  looked  upon, 
not  only  by  the  s;ymod,  but  by  the  congregation  of 
Neshaminy,  and  particularly  by  the  appellants  them- 
selves, as  the  minister  and  pastor  of  the  people  of 
Neshaminy,  that  he  is  still  to  be  esteemed  as  the 
pastor  of  that  people,  notwithstanding  the  want  of  a 
formal  instalment  among  them," 

For  some  time  before  his  death  his  health  was  so 
feeble,  that  he  was  unable  to  perform  the  duties  of 
the  pastoral  office,  and  his  pulpit  was  supplied  by 
the  presbytery.  In  the  year  1 742,  we  find  the  fol- 
lowing minute  on  the  records  of  the  presbytery. 
<'  Mr.  William  Tennent,  sen.,  gave  into  presbytery 
a  paper,  setting  forth  his  inability,  by  reason  of  ad- 
vanced age,  to  discharge  the  work  of  the  ministry 
imto  the  congregation  of  Neshaminy,  over  which,  for 


30  THE     RKV.    ^\^M.    TENNEXT,    SEX. 

divers  years  past,  he  has  been  overseer — desiring  th'- 
presbytery  to  grant  to  said  congregation  of  Ncshani- 
iny,  such  supplies  as  they  can."  We  find  his  name 
enrolled  among  the  members  of  the  New  Brunswick 
presbytery,  in  the  following  year,  (1743)  and  in  the 
same  year,  he  is  mentioned  as  present  when  the 
presbytery  met  to  ordain  Mr.  Beatty  as  his  succes- 
sor. It  is  evident  from  this,  that  he  had  resigned  his 
charge,  for  Mr.  Beatty  is  not  said  to  have  been  or- 
dained as  his  colleague.  This  seems  to  have  been 
the  last  meeting  of  presbytery  which  he  ever  at- 
tended. His  connexion  with  the  congregation  was, 
no  doubt,  dissolved  at  the  time  when  he  presented 
the  paper  stating  his  inability  to  fulfil  the  duties  of 
a  pastor  ;  for,  in  the  same  year,  a  call  was  presented 
to  Mr.  William  Robinson,  which  he  declined ;  and 
after  this,  in  1743.  Mr.  Beatty,  having  accepted  the 
call  of  the  people,  was  ordained  their  pastor,  in  the 
month  of  October. 

It  is  stated,  in  the  sketch  of  the  life  of  Gilbert  Ten- 
nent  in  the  Assembly's  JNIagazine,  that  the  Rev. 
William  Temient,  sen.  died  in  the  year  1743;  but 
this  is  not  correct ;  for  we  find  a  record  in  the  min- 
utes of  the  New  Brunswick  presbytery,  for  the  year 
1746,  of  the  following  import:  "  It  is  reported  to 
the  presbytery  that  IMr.  William  Tennent,  sen.  de- 
ceased, since  our  last."* 

*  The  exact  date  of  his  death  was  May  6,  1746,  aged  73. 
This  was  communicated  to  the  author,  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Mil- 
.  ler,  who  transcribed  from  his  tomb-stone. 


THE    REV.    WM.    TENNENT,    SEN.  31 

He  died  at  his  own  house,  in  Neshaminy,  and 
caane  to  tlie  grave  in  a  good  old  age,  hkc  a  shock  of 
corn  fully  ripe.  He  was  buried  in  the  Presbyterian 
burying  ground,  where  his  tomb  may  be  yet  seen. 

Mr,  Tennent,  as  far  as  we  know,  never  pub- 
lished any  thing.  We  have,  therefore,  no  means 
of  ascertaining  his  abilities  as  a  writer ;  but  the 
benefit  he  conferred  on  the  church  by  his  school 
can  never  be  forgotten.  The  Presbyterian  church 
is  probably  not  more  indebted  for  her  prosperity, 
and  for  the  evangelical  spirit  which  has  generally 
pervaded  her  body,  to  any  individual,  than  to  the 
elder  Tennent.  Some  men  accomplish  much  more 
by  those  whom  they  educate,  than  by  their  own 
personal  labours.  This  should  be  an  encourage- 
ment to  such  ministers  as  are  obliged  to  resort  to 
teaching  for  their  own  support.  If  they  are  so  fa- 
voured as  to  be  the  means  of  bringing  forward  a 
few  pious  youth,  and  preparing  them  for  the  minis- 
try, they  may  do  more  good  than  if  their  whole 
lives  had  been  spent  in  doing  nothing  else  but  preach- 
ing the  Gospel.  And  it  is  good  policy  for  Presbyte- 
rian ministers  to  establish  schools,  in  their  charges, 
wherever  they  are  needed.  And  this  they  may  do, 
without  subjecting  themselves  to  the  drudgery  of 
teaching,  all  the  time.  Pious  young  men  might  b<; 
found,  to  whom  such  a  situation  would  be  a  favour. 
And  such  institutions  are  often  necessary  to  enable  a 

minister  to  educate  his  own  sons.     When  the  means 

Cl 


32  I'HE     IlEV.     VVM.    TENNKNT,    SEN. 

of  acquiring  a  liberal  education  arc  brought  to  the 
doors  of  the  people,  many  will  avail  themselves  of 
the  privilege,  who  would  never  have  thought  of 
going  abroad  for  the  same  purpose.  The  trutli  of 
this  remark  has  been  verified  in  almost  every  place 
where  a  good  school  has  been  established. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  our  materials  for  a  me- 
moir of  the  Founder  of  the  Log  College  are  so 
scanty  ;  but  his  usefulness  must  be  estimated  by  the 
character  of  his  pupils,  of  some  of  whom  we  shall 
have  it  in  our  power  to  give  a  more  particular  ac- 
count ;  and  to  this  part  of  our  work  we  shall  now 
address  ourselves. 


CHAPTEE  III. 

MEMOIR  OF  REV.  GILBERT  TENNENT. 

Gilbert  Tcnnent — Birth — Education — Conversion — Licensure— 
Character  by  Dr.  Finley — By  ]\Ir.  Prince — By  Mr.  Whitefield — 
Visit  to  Boston — Success  of  his  ministry  in  New  England,  and  in 
other  places. 

Having,  in  the  preceding  chapter,  given  some  ac- 
count of  the  founder  of  this  Uterary  institution,  let 
us  now  attend  to  the  character  of  some  of  its  prin- 
cipal pupils.  The  surest  criterion,  by  which  to  judge 
of  the  character  of  any  school,  is  to  observe  the  at- 
tainments and  habits  of  those  educated  in  it.  And 
judging  by  this  rule,  a  very  high  place  must  be  as- 
signed to  the  Log  College,  notwithstanding  its  di- 
minutive and  mean  external  appearance.  And  what 
was  before  said  should  be  remembered,  that  this  was 
the  first  seminary  in  which  young  men  were  trained 
for  the  gospel  ministry,  within  the  limits  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church.  Before  this  school  was  opened,  if  a 
young  man  wished  to  become  a  minister  in  the  Pres- 
byterian church,  he  must  either  repair  to  one  of  the 
New  England  colleges,  or  go  to  Europe.  It  is  morally 

certain,  therefore,  that  few,  if  anv  of  those  who  were 
C2 


34  THK  REV,  Gii.nEnr  tennent. 

brought  forward  to  the  work,  could  ever  have  reached 
the  mmistry  had  it  not  been  for  this  school.  Accor- 
dingly, we  find,  that  for  a  considerable  time,  nearly 
all  the  ministers  composing  the  synod,  were  either 
from  Great  Jiritain,  Ireland,  or  New  England,  ex- 
cept those  who  proceeded  from  this  school.  And  of 
what  character  and  abilities  these  were,  we  shall 
soon  see.  The  first  on  the  list  of  students,  in  this 
school,  was,  no  doubt,  Mr,  Tennent's  oldest  son, 
Gilbert.  For  though  he  had  finished  his  education 
before  the  Log  College  was  built,  yet  he  received  no 
other  education  than  what  he  gained  under  the  tui- 
tion of  his  father;  and  may  therefore  without  im- 
propriety be  classed  among  the  pupils  of  the  insti- 
tution. 

Gilbert  Tennent,  the  oldest  son  of  the  Rev.  William 
Tennent,  sen.,  was  born  in  the  county_of  Armagh, 
Ireland,  April  5,  in  the  year  1703,  and  was,  therefore, 
thirteen  or  fourteen  years  of  age,  when  his  father 
immigrated  to  this  country.  In  setting  up  this 
school,  no  doubt,  the  father  had  a  regard  to  the  ed- 
ucation of  his  four  sons.  Men  who  have  themselves 
profited  by  education,  and  have  become  learned, 
cannot  but  feel  a  lively  interest  in  the  education  of 
their  children  ;  and  this  motive  has  had  its  influence 
in  the  mstitution  of  numerous  classical  schools,  in 
this  country,  besides  the  Log  College.  Judging 
by  the  result,  however,  all  have  reason  to  conclude, 
that  in  the  mind  of  this  good  man,  the  education  of 


THE    REV.    GILBERT    TENNENT.  35 

his  sons  was  viewed  as  subordinate  to  the  prosperity 
of  the  church  ;  for  every  one  of  them  became  min- 
isters of  the  gospel,  and  some  of  them  ranked 
among  the  most  distinguished,  who  have  ever  la- 
boured in  the  Presbyterian  church. 

Gilbert  Tcnncnt,  as  has  been  remarked,  received 
his  education  under  the  paternal  roof,  before  this 
school  was  opened  ;  for  at  this  time  he  was  twenty- 
one  or  twenty-two  years  of  age  ;  and  was  soon  able 
to  be  an  assistant  to  his  father  in  teaching  the  other 
students.  And  when  we  consider  the  eminence  to 
which  he  rose  as  a  preacher,  and  as  a  writer,  we 
need  no  other  proof  of  the  talents  and  skill  of  his 
reverend  tutor. 

Gilbert  Tennent's  first  religious  impressions  of 
any  permanency,  were  experienced  when  he  was 
about  fourteen  years  of  age.  His  serious  concern 
about  his  salvation  continued  for  several  years  be- 
fore his  mind  was  established  in  comfort  and  peace. 
During  this  period,  he  was  often  in  great  agony  of 
spirit ;  until  at  last,  it  pleased  God  to  give  him  "  the 
light  of  the  knowledge  of  his  glory  in  the  face  of 
Jesus  Christ."  While  he  remained  in  the  anxious 
state  of  mind,  which  has  been  referred  to,  beside  his 
other  studies,  he  pursued  a  course  of  theological 
reading;  but  living  under  the  habitual  impression 
that  his  spiritual  condition  was  not  good,  he  durst  not 
think  of  entering  the  holy  ministry.     lie,  therefore, 

commenced  the  study  of  medicine,  which  he  prosc- 
C3 


36  THE    KKV.    GILUF-RT    TENNKNT. 

cuted  for  the  space  of  a  year.  lint  about  this  time, 
it  pleased  God  to  reveal  himself  to  liim  with  so  much 
clearness  and  comfort,  that  all  his  doubts  and  sor- 
rows, and  fears  were  dispelled;  and  the  Sun  of 
Righteousness  arose  upon  him  with  healing  under 
his  wings.  And  no  sooner  was  he  satisfied  of  his 
saving  interest  in  Christ,  than  he  felt  himself  called 
to  seek  the  ministry,  which  he  had  before  been  de- 
terred from  thinking  of.  And  here  it  may  be  proper 
to  remark,  that,  often,  when  God  intends  a  man  for 
eminent  usefulness  in  the  ministr}'-,  he  leads  him 
through  deep  Avaters,  and  causes  him  to  drink  freely 
of  the  cup  of  spiritual  sorrow,  that  he  may  be  pre- 
pared, by  a  long  course  of  afflictive  experiences,  to 
sympathize  with  tempted  and  desponding  believers, 
and  may  learn  how  to  administer  to  them  that  con- 
solation by  which  his  own  heart  was  at  last  com- 
forted. Of  this,  religious  biography  furnishes  many 
instructive  examples.  After  due  preparation  and 
study,  JNIr.  Gilbert  Tennent  presented  himself  as  a 
candidate,  to  the  presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  of 
which  his  father  was  a  member.  Having  passed 
the  usual  trials  before  the  presbytery,  to  their  great 
approbation,  he  received  a  license  to  preach,  in  May, 
1726.  This  was  the  very  year  in  which  the  Log 
College  was  opened ;  and  as  we  learn  from  the  doc- 
uments to  which  we  have  had  access,  that  he  was 
an  usher,  or  assistant  to  his  father  in  the  school,  it 
seems  altogether  probable  that  he  continued  with  his 


TH£    REV.  GILBERT    TENNEN'l".  37 

father  in  the  school  for  one  year,  at  least ;  for  by  the 
Presbyterial  Records  it  appears,  that  he  was  not  or- 
dained and  settled  as  a  pastor,  until  the  autumn  of 
the  year  1 727.  This  then,  is  the  only  period  in  which 
he  could  have  been  a  tutor  in  the  Log  College  ; 
for  it  was  not  in  existence  until  1726,  and  after  he 
was  ordained,  he  was  the  regular  pastor  of  an  impor- 
tant church  in  another  state ;  for  he  was  called  to  take 
charge  of  the  Presbyterian  congregation  in  the  city 
of  New  Brunswick,  New  Jersey,  Before  Gilbert 
Tennent  settled  at  New  Brunswick,  he  preached 
several  Sabbaths,  in  Newcastle,  on  the  Delaware, 
and  received  a  call  from  the  Presbyterian  congrega- 
tion in  that  place ;  which,  however,  he  did  not  accept. 
From  his  first  entrance  on  the  public  work  of  the 
ministry,  the  preaching  of  Gilbert  Tennent  was  very 
popular  and  attractive,  with  all  classes  of  hearers. 
He  possessed  uncommon  advantages  as  a  preacher. 
In  person,  he  was  taller  than  the  common  stature, 
and  well  proportioned  in  every  respect.  His  aspect 
was  grave  and  venerable,  and  his  address  prepossess- 
ing. His  voice  was  clear  and  commanding,  and  his 
manner  in  the  pulpit  was  exceedingly  earnest,  and 
impressive.  His  reasoning  powers,  also,  were  strong, 
and  his  language  often  nervous,  and,  indeed,  sublime. 
No  one  could  hear  him  without  being  convinced  that 
lie  was  deeply  in  earnest.  His  style  was  copious, 
and  sometimes  elegant.  Indeed,  in  the  vigour  of  liis 
age,  few  preachers  could  equal  him. 


38  THE    KEV.    GILBERT  TENNENT. 

In  the  sermon  preached  at  the  funeral  of  Mr  Ten- 
ncnt  by  Dr.  Finley,hc  descri])es  his  character,  as  fol- 
lows: "  In  his  manners,  at  first  view,  he  seemed  dis- 
tant and  reserved  ;  yet,  upon  nearer  acquaintance,  he 
was  ever  found  affable,  condescending,  and  commu- 
nicative.    And  what  greatly  endeared  his  conversa- 
tion was,  an  openness  and  undisguised  honesty  ;  at 
the  greatest  remove  from  artifice  and  dissimulation, 
Avhich  were  the  abhorrence  of  his  soul,  while  he  lived. 
Besides,  he  was  tender,  loving,  and  compassionate ; 
kind  and  agreeable  in  every  relation ;  an  assured 
friend  to  such  as  he  esteemed  worthy  of  his  regards  ; 
and  a  common  patron  to  all  whom  he  apprehended 
were  injured  or  distressed.     He  was  of  a  truly  public 
spirit,  and  seemed  to  feel  the  various  cases  of  man- 
kind in  general :  but  sensibly  partook  of  all  the  good 
or  ill  that  befell  his  country.     He  needed  no  other 
motive  to  exert  himself,  than  only  to  be  persuaded 
that  the  matter  in  question  was  an  important  public 
good ;  and  in  such  cases,  he  was  much  regarded,  not 
only  because  of  his  known  integrity,  but  his  generous 
and  catholic  disposition.     For  although  he  was  a 
great  lover  of  truth,  and  very  zealous  for  its  propa- 
gation ;  yet  he  was  so  far  above  a  narrow,  party 
spirit,  that  he  loved  and  honoured  all  who  seemed  to 
have  '  the  root  of  the  matter  in  them,'  and  made  it 
their  business  to  promote  the  essentials  of  religion, 
though  they  were,  in  various  points,  opposed  to  his 

own  sentiments.     He  was,  moreover,  an  example 


THE    REV.    GILBERT    TEXNENT.  39 

of  great  fortitude,  and  unshaken  resolution.  What- 
ever appeared  to  him  subservient  to  the  advance- 
ment of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom,  the  salvation  of 
souls,  or  the  common  good  of  mankind,  he  pursued 
with  spirit;  and  what  he  did,  he  did  with  his  might. 
If  the  end  seemed  to  be  attainable,  great  obstructions 
and  difficulties  in  the  way,  were  so  far  from  dispirit- 
ing, that  they  animated  him  in  his  efforts  :  nor  would 
he  give  up  the  point,  while  one  glimpse  of  hope  re- 
mained. Hence,  he  accomplished  many  important 
matters,  which  one  less  determined  and  enterprizing, 
would  presently  have  relinquished  as  desperate.  He 
would  go  through  honour  and  dishonour,  through  'evil 
report  and  good  report';  and  though  he  had  sensibil- 
ity with  respect  to  his  character,  as  well  as  other 
men ;  yet,  if  preserving  it,  seemed  at  any  time  to 
require  the  omission  of  duty,  or  sinful  compliances, 
he  readily  determined  to  expose  himself  to  all  risks ; 
and  if  adhering  to  the  will  of  God  should  be  ac- 
counted '  vile,'  he  resolved  that  he  would  be  '  yet 
more  vile.' 

"  A  great  part  of  his  life  was  a  scene  of  unremitted 
labour.  He  studied  hard,  travelled  much,  and 
preached  often,  while  his  health  and  other  circum- 
stances permitted.  He  was  '  instant  in  season  and 
out  of  season' :  always  about  his  Master's  business. 
They  who  have  journeyed  or  been  often  with  him  in 
company,  could  not  but  observe  his  constant  endea- 
vours to  do  good  by  his  conversation  ;  to  introduce 


40  THE    REV.    GILBERT    TENNENT. 

some  convincing  or  edifying  topics  ;  a)id  liis  watch- 
ing for  proper  opportunities  for  speaking  for  God. 
And  very  faithful  was  he  in  warning  sinners  of  their 
danger,  and  persuading  them  to  seek  salvation  in 
earnest.  Thus,  he  showed  how  much  rehgion  was 
his  element,  and  promoting  it  the  delightful  business 
of  his  life.  How  benevolent  towards  mankind  he 
was,  and  how  precious  immortal  souls  were  in  his 
esteem,  were  evident  from  this,  that  every  advantage 
accruing  to  them  he  reckoned  clear  gain  to  himself; 
nor  were  they  <  who  divide  the  spoil,'  ever  more 
joyful  than  I  have  known  him  to  be,  on  occasion  of 
the  hopeful  conversion  of  sinners,  whether  by  his 
own,  or  the  ministry  of  others.  And,  often,  has  his 
'soul  wept  in  secret  places,  for  the  pride'  and  obsti- 
nacy of  those  who  refused  to  be  reclaimed. 

"  His  great  reading,  with  his  various  and  long  ex- 
perience of  the  workings  of  both  grace  and  corrup- 
tion in  the  heart,  made  him  a  wise  and  skilful  cas- 
uist, who  could  resolve  perplexing  exercises  of  mind 
with  clearness,  [and  enabled]  him  to  comfort  with 
those  consolations,  wherewith  he  in  like  cases  had 
been  comforted  of  God. 

"  He  was  a  faithful  attendant  on  the  judicatories 
of  the  church,  as  was  natural  for  one  so  anxiously 
concerned  for  the  interest  of  religion,  as  he  was. 
And  having  observed  the  effects  of  a  lax  aad  negli- 
gent government  in  some  churches,  he  became  a 
more  strenuous  asserter  of  due  and  strict  discipline. 


THE    REV.    GILBERT    TENNENT.  41 

But  above  all  other  things,  the  purity  of  the  minis- 
try was  his  care ;  and,  therefore,  at  th?  hazard  of 
the  displeasure  of  many,  and  in  the  face  of  reproach, 
he  zealously  urged  every  scriptural  method  by  which 
carnal  and  earthly-minded  men  might  be  kept  from 
entering  it,  and  men  of  piety  and  zeal,  as  well  as 
learning,  introduced. 

"  As  Mr.  Tennent's  preaching  was  very  alarming 
and  awakening  to  careless  sinners;,  so  it  was  much 
blessed  to  this  end,  wherever  he  preached.  And  it 
was  not  only  rendered  effectual  in  producing  con- 
viction of  sin,  and  exciting  desires  to  flee  from  the 
wrath  to  come,  but  also  to  comfort  mourners  in  Zi- 
on,  and  to  encourage  the  timid  and  self-diffident. 
"  The  atoning  blood  of  the  Redeemer,  that  only 
sovereign  balsam,  was  applied  to  their  recent  or  fes- 
tering wounds.  For  while,  at  one  time,  when  he 
thundered  the  terrors  of  the  law,  the  heavens  seemed 
to  gather  blackness,  and  a  tempest  of  wrath  appeared 
ready  to  be  hurled  on  the  heads  of  the  guilty ;  at 
other  times,  when  he  exhibited  the  riches  of  the 
grace  and  provisions  of  the  gospel,  the  heavens 
seemed  to  smile,  the  clouds  were  dispelled,  and  the 
sky  became  serene.  The  almighty  God  was  shown 
to  be  their  refuge,  and  underneath  were  the  ever- 
lasting arms.  Then  his  exhilirating  words  dropped 
upon  them  as  the  dew." 

The  preceding  full  length  portrait  is,  with  some 
slight  alterations  in  the  language,  from  the  pen  of 


42  THE    REV.    GILUEHT    TENXENT. 

one  well  qualified  to  judge  in  such  matters,  and  who 
by  a  long  and  intimate  acquaintance,  had  the  best 
opportunities  of  knowing  the  true  character  of  the 
man  which  he  undertakes  to  describe.  The  Rev.  Dr. 
Finley,  president  of  New  Jersey  College,  the  author 
of  the  foregoing  sketch,  was  himself  one  of  the  alum- 
ni of  the  Log  College.  It  is  possible,  however,  that 
the  cordial  friendship  which  he  had  long  cherished 
for  Gilbert  Tennent,  and  the  early  admiration  wliich 
he  felt  for  his  talents  and  virtues,  might  insensibly 
lead  him  to  give  rather  too  high  a  colouring  to  the 
portraiture  which  he  has  delineated.  One  thing  is 
apparent  to  all  who  attentively  consider  what  Dr. 
Finley  has  written,  that  however  just  the  promi- 
nent traits  may  be,  the  shading  which  more  or  less 
belongs  to  every  human  character,  is  wanting.  Un- 
doubtedly, Gilbert  Tennent  had  his  imperfections, 
and  they  were  sometimes  sufficiently  visible.  But, 
on  the  whole,  it  must  be  confessed,  that  he  was  a 
very  eminent  minister  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  was  made 
the  instrument  of  performing  a  great  work,  in  liis 
day.  His  memory  ought  to  be  precious  in  the  Pres- 
byterian church.  Dr.  Finley  says,  "  that  the  seals 
of  his  ministry  in  New  Brunswick  and  parts  adja- 
cent, where  he  first  exercised  his  ministry,  were  nu- 
merous. INIany  have  I  known,  in  those,  and  other 
parts  where  he  only  preached  occasionally,  whose 
piety  was  unquestioned,  who  owned  him  for  their 


THE    KEV.    GILBERT    TENNENT.  43 

spiritual  father  :  and  many  I  have  heard  of  in  diffe- 
rent places." 

Though  Dr.  Finley's  description  of  the  character 
of  Gilbert  Tennent  is  full,  it  will  be  satisfactory  to 
have  the  the  testimony  of  some  other  distinguished 
persons  respecting  him.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Prince,  a 
pious  and  learned  minister  of  Boston,  speaks  of  Mr. 
Tennent  in  the  following  terms.  "  In  private  con- 
versation, I  found  him  to  be  a  man  of  considerable 
parts  and  learning  ;  free,  gentle,  and  condescending, 
and  from  his  own  various  experience,  his  reading 
the  most  eminent  writers  on  experimental  divinity, 
as  well  as  the  scriptures,  and  from  his  conversing 
with  many  who  had  been  awakened  by  his  ministry, 
in  New  Jersey,  he  seemed  to  have  as  deep  an  ac- 
quaintance with  the  experimental  part  of  religion, 
as  any  I  have  conversed  with.  And  his  preaching 
was  as  searching  and  rousing,  as  ever  I  heard." — 
''  He  seemed  to  have  such  a  lively  view  of  the  divine 
Majesty — of  the  'spirituality,  purity,  extensiveness, 
and  strictness  of  the  law,  with  his  glorious  holiness, 
and  displeasure  at  sin  ;  his  justice,  truth,  and  power, 
in  punishing  the  damned,  that  the  very  terrors  of  God 
seemed  to  rise  in  his  mind  afresh,  when  he  displayed 
and  brandished  them  in  the  eyes  of  unreconciled 
sinners."  And  the  same  writer  speaks  of  his  re- 
markable discrimination  and  skill  in  detecting  hypo- 
crites, "  and  laying  open  their  many  vain  and  secret 
refuges,    counterfeit    resemblances,    their  delusive 


44  rUK     KKV.    GILHKIIT    TKXNKrfT. 

hopes,  their  utter  impotence,  and  impending  danger 
of  destruction." 

It  will  be  gratifying  to  learn  what  Mr.  White- 
field's  opinion  was  of  the  subject  of  this  memoir. 
And  this  we  have  given  very  freely  and  fully,  in  his 
Journal,  to  which  reference  has  already  been  made. 
"Nov.  13,  [1739].  Left  Trenton  about  six  in  the 
morning,  had  a  sweet  and  pleasant  journey,  and 
reached  Brunswick,  about  thirty  miles  distant,  about 
one  o'clock.  Here  we  were  much  refreshed  with 
the  company  of  Mr.  Gilbert  Tennent,  an  eminent 
dissenting  minister,  about  forty  years  of  age,  son  to 
that  good  old  man  who  came  to  see  me  on  Saturday, 
at  Philadelphia.  God,  I  find,  has  been  pleased 
greatly  to  bless  his  labours.  He  and  his  associates, 
are  now  the  burning  and  shining  lights  of  this  part 
of  America.  He  recounted  to  me  many  remarkable 
effusions  of  the  Blessed  Spirit,  which  have  been  sent 
down  among  them.  And  one  may  judge  of  their 
being  true  and  faithful  soldiers  of  Jesus  Christ,  be- 
cause they  are  every  where  spoken  evil  of,  by  natu- 
ral men.  The  devil  and  carnal  ministers  rage  horri- 
bly against  them.  Several  pious  souls  came  to  see 
me  at  his  house,  with  whom  I  took  sweet  counsel." 
"Wednesday,  Nov.  14.  Set  out  early  from  Bruns- 
wick, with  my  dear  fellow-travellers,  and  my  worthy 
brother  and  fellow-labourer,  Mr.  Tennent.  As  we 
passed  along,  we  spent  our  time  most  agreeably  in 
telling  what  God  had  done  for  our  souls." 


THE    REV.    GILBERT    TENNENT.  45 

Upon  their  arrival  at  New  York,  Mr.  Whitefield 
goes  on  to  say,  "  I  went  to  the  meeting  house  to  hear 
Mr.  Gilbert  Tennent  preach,  and  never  before,  heard 
I  such  a  searching  sermon.  He  went  to  the  bottom, 
indeed,  and  did  not  daub  with  untempered  mortar. 
He  convinced  me  more  and  more,  that  we  can  preach 
the  gospel  of  Christ  no  further  than  we  have  expe- 
rienced the  power  of  it  in  our  own  hearts.  Being 
deeply  convicted  of  sin,  and  being  from  time  to  time 
driven  from  his  false  bottom  and  dependencies,  by 
God's  Holy  Spirit,  at  his  first  conversion,  he  has 
learned  experimentally  to  dissect  the  heart  of  the 
natural  man.  Hypocrites  must  either  soon  be  con- 
verted or  enraged,  at  his  preaching.  He  is  '  a  son 
of  thunder,'  and  does  not  regard  the  face  of  man. 
He  is  deeply  sensible  of  the  deadness  and  formality 
of  the  Christian  church,  in  these  parts,  and  has  given 
noble  testimonies  against  it." 

A  higher  testimony,  and  from  higher  authority 
could  not  be  given,  upon  earth.  It  is  doubtful  whe- 
ther Mr.  Whitefield  has  ever  expressed  so  high  an 
opinion  of  any  other  preacher,  of  any  denomination. 
Indeed,  it  is  probable,  that  he  never  met  with  a  man 
of  a  more  perfectly  congenial  spirit  with  his  own. 
As  Mr.  Whitefield  was  doubtless  honoured  to  be 
the  instrument  of  the  conversion  of  more  souls  than 
any  other  preacher  of  his  age,  or  perhaps  of  any  age, 
since  that  of  the   apostle   Paul;   so  Mr.    Tennent, 

among  orthodox   preachers,  undoubtedly  deserves 

D 


f6  THK    KEV.    l!r(Hn:iiT   lESKEXT. 

to  be  placiid  next  to  him,  lx)th  in  the  abundance  of 
his  labours,  and  the  wonderful  success  wliich  at- 
tended his  ministry. 

When  in  tiic  year  1740,  Mr.  Whitefield  returned 
from  Boston,  he  persuaded  and  urged  Mr.  Gilbert 
Tennent,  to  make  a  preaching  tour  through  New 
England,  as  far  as  Boston,  to  water  the  good  seed 
which  he  had  there  sown  by  his  preaching,  on  his  late 
visit.  At  that  time,  there  was  but  little  intercourse 
between  the  middle  and  eastern  colonics  ;  and  no  ec- 
clesiastical connexion  between  the  Presbyterian  and 
Congregational  churches.  Mr.  Whitefield's  preach- 
ing, attended  by  the  mighty  power  of  God,  not  only 
was  the  means  of  the  conviction  and  conversion  of 
many  of  his  hearers ;  but  he  also  excited  a  host  of 
enemies,  who  pursued  him  with  unrelenting  hostili- 
ty ;  and  among  his  opposers  were  reckoned,  both  in 
this  country  and  in  Great  Britain,  the  majority  of  the 
clergy  and  of  professors  of  religion.  Thus  verifying 
the  words  of  our  Lord,  "  If  they  have  persecuted  me, 
they  will  also  persecute  you ;  if  they  have  kept  my 
sayings,  they  will  keep  yours  also."  Mr.  Tennent 
must  have  been  intiamcd  with  a  very  ardent  zeal, 
situated  as  he  was,  tiie  pastor  of  a  church,  and  the 
father  of  a  family,  to  set  off  in  the  depth  of  winter, 
to  preach  to  a  strange  people,  among  whom  he  pro- 
bably had  not  a  single  acquaintance,  either  among 
the  clergy  or  the  laity.  But  invincible  resolution, 
was  a  prominent  trait  in  his  character,     Mr.  White- 


THE    RKV.    GILBERT    TEXXETST,  47 

field  made  no  journeys  without  several  attendants ; 
men  who  cheerfully  ministered  unto  him,  as  did  Tim- 
othy, and  Luke,  and  Silas,  and  Mark  and  others,  to 
Paul.  But  JMr.  Tennent  appears,  to  have  gone  on 
this  self-denying  and  evangelical  tour,  alone.  He 
was  influenced  by  no  curiosity  to  see  a  country  not 
before  visited ;  nor  could  he  liave  had  any  secular 
motive  to  induce  him  to  perform  so  laborious  a  ser- 
vice, as  that  in  which  he  now  engaged. 

As  Mr.  Whitefield's  preaching  had  enkindled  a 
considerable  flame  in  Boston,  Mr.  Tennent  directed 
his  course  immediately  to  that  city ;  where  he  arrived 
on  the  13th  of  December,  1740;  and  here  he  con- 
tinued for  nearly  three  months,  preaching  almost 
every  day,  with  extraordinary  power  and  success. 
There  were,  however,  there,  many  who  were  ready 
to  welcome  him  ;  and  several  of  the  excellent  minis- 
ters of  the  town  cordially  received  this  zealous  preach- 
er, and  opened  their  pulpits — and,  indeed,  some  of 
them,  gave  them  up  to  him,  while  he  continued  in 
the  place.  Among  those  who  received  him  joyfully, 
was  the  Rev.  Mr.  Prince,  the  auilior  of  "The  Chris- 
tian History,"  from  whose  pen  we  are  favoured  with 
an  account  of  Mr.  Tenncnt's  manner  of  preaching, 
during  his  ministry  in  Boston.  "  It  was,"  says  ho, 
<'  both  terrible  and  searching.  It  was  for  matter, 
justly  terrible,  as  he,  according  to  the  inspired  oracles, 
exhibited  the  dreadful  holiness,  justice,  law-threat- 
fnings,  trntli,  power,  and  majestv  of  God,  and  his 


48  THK    RKV.    C.UAiF.nV    TKNNKNT. 

anger  witli  rebellious,  impenitent,  and  Christless  sin- 
ners :  the  awful  danger  they  were  in  every  moment 
of  being  struck  down  to  hell,  and  damned  forever^ 
with  the  amazing  miseries  of  that  place  of  torment. 
By  his  arousing  and  scriptural  preaching,  deep  and 
pungent  convictions  were  wrought  in  the  minds  of 
many  hundreds  of  persons,  in  that  town ;  and  the 
same  effect  was  produced  in  several  scores,  in  the 
neighbouring  congregations.  And  now,  was  such  a 
time  as  we  never  knew.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Cooper  was 
wont  to  say,  that  more  came  to  him  in  one  week,  in 
deep  concern,  than  in  the  whole  twenty-four  years 
of  his  preceding  ministry.  I  can  say  also  the  same, 
as  to  the  numbers  who  repaired  to  me."  "  By  a 
letter  of  Mr.  Cooper — one  of  the  evangelical  minis- 
ters of  Boston — to  a  friend  in  Scotland,  it  appears,  he 
had  had  about  six  hundred  different  persons  to  visit 
him  on  the  concerns  of  their  souls,  in  three  month's 
time.  And  Mr.  AVebb — another  of  the  pious  Boston 
ministers — informs  me,  he  has  had,  in  the  same  space, 
above  a  thousand." 

But  it  will  be  satisfactory  to  hear  Mr.  Tennent's 
own  account  of  this  visit ;  which  is  found  in  a  letter 
addressed  to  Mr.  "Whitefield,  by  whose  urgent  en- 
treaty he  was  persuaded  to  undertake  the  journey' 
This  letter  has  been  preserved  in  that  excellent  book, 
"  Gillies's  Historical  Collections,"  of  which  there 
certainly  ought  to  be  a  new  edition,  as  copies  of  the 
work,  are  becoming  very  scarce. 


the  rev.  gilbert  tennent.  49 

"  Very  dear  brother, 

In  my  return  home,  I  have  been  preach- 
ing daily  ;  ordinarily,  three  times  in  a  day,  and  some- 
times, oftener :  and,  through  pure  grace,  I  have  met 
with  success  much  exceeding  my  expectations.  In 
the  town  of  Boston,  there  were  many  hundreds,  if 
not  thousands,  as  some  have  judged,  under  soul-con- 
cern. When  I  left  the  place,  many  children  were 
deeply  affected  about  their  souls,  and  several  had  re- 
ceived consolation.  Some  aged  persons  in  chm-ch- 
communion,  and  some  open  opposers,  were  con- 
vinced. Divers  of  the  young  and  middle  aged  were 
converted,  and  several  negroes.  The  concern  was 
rather  more  general  at  Charlestown.  Multitudes 
were  awakened,  and  several  had  received  great  con- 
solation ;  especially  among  the  young  people,  chil- 
dren, and  negroes.  In  Cambridge,  also,  in  the  town 
and  in  the  college,  the  shaking  among  the  dry  bones 
was  general,  and  several  of  the  students  have  re- 
ceived consolation."  He  then  proceeds  to  name 
more  than  twenty  towns  to  which  the  revival  had 
extended  ;  and  in  most  of  which  he  had  preached  on 
his  return  home.  "  In  New  Haven,"  says  he,  "  the 
concern  was  general,  botli  in  the  college,  and  in  the 
town.  About  thirty  students  came  on  foot,  ten  miles, 
to  hear  the  word  of  God.  And  at  Milford,  the  con- 
cern was  general.  I  believe,  by  a  moderate  calcula- 
tion, divers  thousands  have  been  awakened.     Glory 

to  God  on  high !    I  thank  you  sir,  that  you  did  excite 
D3 


50  THE    REV.    fULnKRT    TENNENT. 

me  to  this  journey,  I  have  had  good  information, 
that  on  Long  Island,  God  has  blessed  my  poor  la- 
bours, on  my  pass  to  New  England.  The  work  of 
God  spreads  more  and  more.  My  brother  William 
has  had  remarkable  success,  this  winter,  at  Burling- 
ton. Mr.  John  Cross  has  had  remarkable  success  at 
Statcn  Island  ;  and  many,  I  liear,  have  been  awak- 
ened by  the  labours  of  Mr.  Robinson,  in  New  York 
government.  Mr.  Mills  has  had  remarkable  success 
in  Connecticut,  particularly  at  New  Haven.  And 
I  hear  that  Mr.  Blair  has  had  remarkable  success,  in 
Pennsylvania." 

On  the  subject  of  this  great  revival,  which  extended 
from  Massachusetts  to  Georgia,  the  ministers  of  the 
synod  were  greatly  divided.  For  while  some  ap- 
proved the  work,  and  were  principal  instruments  in 
promoting  it,  a  majority  considered  it  an  ebullition 
of  enthusiasm,  which  tended  neither  to  the  gloiy  of 
God,  nor  to  the  real  benefit  of  immortal  souls.  And 
concerning  Mr.  Whitefield  and  his  preaching,  there 
was  an  entire  dissension.  And  this  difference,  relat- 
ing to  the  great  and  vital  interests  of  religion,  pro- 
duced exasperation.  The  friends  of  the  revival 
considered  all  who  opposed  it,  as  setting  themselves 
in  opposition  to  a  glorious  work  of  God's  grace,  and 
they  could  not  but  view  all  who  openly  spoke  against 
the  revival,  or  opposed  it  in  any  way,  to  be  the  ene- 
mies of  God.  Hence,  they  too  hastily  took  up  the 
opinion,  that  all  those  ministers  who  disapproved  the 


THK    UKV.    GILBKRT    TENNENT.  51 

work,  were  unconverted  men  ;  that  they  were  mere 
formahsts,  and  knew  nothing  of  the  vital  power  of 
religion;  but  trusted  to  a  mere  profession  of  ortho- 
doxy, and  that  if  in  words  they  did  not  deny  the 
truths  of  God,  they  did,  in  fact:  and  though  they 
might  acknowledge  the  truth  in  theory,  it  was  with 
them  a  "dead  orthodoxy,"  which  they  held  in  un- 
righteousness. On  the  other  hand,  the  oppose rs  of 
the  revival,  blamed  the  kind  of  preaching  which  the 
revivalists  adopted  ;  especially,  the  dwelling  so  much 
damned.  They  charged  the  leaders  in  the  revival  with 
on  the  terrors  of  the  law,  and  the  torments  of  the 
encouraging  enthusiastic  raptures,  and  making  reli- 
gion to  consist  too  much  in  strong  emotion,  and  vio- 
lent excitement,  attended  often  with  bodily  affec- 
tions. They  were  also  greatly  offended  with  the 
harsh,  uncharitable  spirit  with  which  they  were 
denounced  and  misrepresented,  by  the  preachers  on 
the  other  side  ;  and  their  opposition  to  no  one,  unless 
Mr.  Whitcfield  be  an  exception,  was  greater  than 
to  Mr.  Gilbert  Tennent.  Indeed,  all  must  aclaiow- 
Icdgc,  that  among  the  friends  and  promoters  of  the 
revival,  he  stood  pre-eminent ;  and  in  the  harshness 
of  his  censures,  and  the  severity  of  his  denunciation, 
he  went  far  before  all  his  brethren.  It  cannot  be 
doubted  that  before  the  commencement  of  this  ex- 
traordinary revival  of  religion,  the  Presbyterian 
church  in  America,  was  in  a  most  deplorable  state 
of  deadness  and  formality  ;  and  that  the  necessity  of 


52  IHK    KKV.    CILBKKT    TENNENT. 

a  change  of  heart  was  very  little  inculcated  from  the 
pulpit,  or  understood  by  the  people.  Here  it  may 
be  remarked,  that  the  founder  of  the  Log  College, 
and  all  the  pupils  of  that  school  were  warm  friends  of 
the  revival,  and  exerted  themselves  Avith  all  their 
might  to  promote  the  good  work. 


-^    CHAPTEE  IV. 

Rev.  Gilbert  Tennent's  Contest  with  the  synod — Severity  of  his 
censures — New  Brunswick  presbytery  protest  against  the  sy- 
nod's act — Violate  it — Are  excluded  irregularly  from  the  synod — 
Form  a  separate  Body — Judgment  of  their  conduct. 

We  come  now  to  a  period  of  Gilbert  Tennent's 
life,  in  whicli  he  was  called  to  act  a  very  conspicuous 
part  in  the  affairs  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  A 
great  schism  took  place  in  the  synod,  in  bringing  about 
which,  it  must  be  admitted,  he  had  his  full  share. 
It  took  place,  indeed,  by  the  expulsion  of  himself, 
and  the  other  members  of  the  New  Brunswick  pres- 
bytery, from  the  synod :  but  he  had  provoked  his 
opponents  by  one  of  the  most  severely  abusive  ser- 
mons which  was  ever  penned,  called,  "  The  Not- 
tingham Sermon,''  because  it  was  preached  at  that 
place.  And  in  the  protests  which  he  and  Mr.  Samuel 
Blair  presented  to  the  synod,  in  1740,  the  majority  if 
the  members  of  the  synod  were  exhibited  in  a  very 
unenviable  light.  Mr.  Gilbert  Tennent  felt  himsrlf 
called  in  providence  to  attempt  to  arouse  the  Pres- 
byterian church  from  its  profound  sleep  of  carnal 
security,  and  to  bring  about  a  reformation  in  the 
body;  but  the  majority  of  the  clergy  were  opposed 


54  THE     Hi:V.     GII.IiKUT    TK.NNKNT. 

to  his  measures,  and  disparaged  wliat  had  already 
been  done.  He  seems,  ihcrcforc,  to  have  considered 
them  as  the  enemies  of  the  spiritual  kingdom  of 
Christ ;  and  that  it  was  his  duty,  in  imitation  of 
Christ  and  the  ancient  propliets,  in  the  plainest  and 
most  solemn  manner,  to  denounce,  and  expose  their 
hypocrisy,  as  did  our  Lord  that  of  the  Pharisees. 
But  here  he  made  a  grand  mistake.  lie  could  not 
read  the  hearts  of  his  opponents,  and,  therefore,  had 
no  authority  to  pronounce  a  sentence  of  condemna- 
tion on  them.  He  should  have  remembered  that 
precept  of  our  Lord,  "  Judge  not  that  ye  be  not 
judged."  A  difference  of  opinion  from  him  respect- 
ing the  true  nature  of  the  revival,  and  concerning 
Mr.  Whitefield's  character,  furnished  no  sufficient 
ground  for  him  to  censure  and  denounce  them,  as 
he  did :  and,  especially,  as  a  part  of  them,  at  least, 
were  excellent  men,  and  sound  and  judicious  theolo- 
gians. They  were  not  the  enemies  of  vital  godli- 
ness, but  were  opposed  to  what  they  apprehended 
to  be  spurious  religion.  We  may  now  see  that  they 
erred  in  their  judgment,  and  pursued  a  course  which 
was  very  injurious  to  the  people  under  their  care, 
and  that  they  committed  a  great  fault  in  opposing  a 
glorious  work  of  God  on  account  of  some  irregu- 
larities which  accompanied  it.  One  of  the  greatest 
causes  of  complaint  against  Mr,  Gilbert  Tennent 
and  his  «  New-light"  brethren  was,  that  in  viola- 
tion of  order  and   propriety,  they  passed   beyond 


THE    UEV.    GILBER'I'    TKNNKNT.  55 

llie  bounds  of  thoir  own  presbytery,  and  intruded 
into  congregations  under  the  care  of  other  min- 
isters. This,  these  brethren  attempted  to  justify 
by  the  sound  maxim,  employed  by  the  apostles, 
when  forbidden  to  preach  by  the  Jewish  rulers, '  that 
we  should  obey  God  rather  than  man.'  But  it  may 
well  be  doubted,  whether,  in  the  circumstances  in 
which  they  were  placed,  the  maxim  was  applicable. 
The  ministers  into  whose  congregations  they  intru- 
ded, belonged  to  the  same  synod  Avith  themselves, 
and  had  as  good  a  right  to  judge  what  was  right 
and  expedient,  as  the  "  New  Side"  ministers. 

We  think,  therefore,  that  Mr.  Tennent  was  much 
to  be  blamed  for  the  course  which  he  pursued,  in  this 
controversy  with  the  synod ;  especially,  in  the  harsh- 
ness, censoriousness,  and  bitterness  Avhich  he  mani- 
fested towards  them ;  particularly,  in  the  sermon  be- 
fore mentioned ;  and  that  his  course  can  by  no 
means  be  justified.  He  does,  indeed,  appear  in  a 
very  unamiablc  light,  and  as  exceedingly  deficient 
in  the  meekness  and  charity  of  the  gospel,  in  this 
whole  controversy.  lie,  doubtless,  believed  that  he 
was  doing  God  service,  and  that  duty  required  him 
to  pursue  the  course  and  manifest  the  spirit  which 
he  did.  And  after  the  separation  had  taken  place, 
and  the  heat  of  the  controversy  had  cooled,  he  seems 
to  have  been  sensible  that  he  had  not  done  justice  to 
the  majority  of  the  synod ;  for  he  wrote  and  pub- 
lished a  large  pamphlet  called  "  The  Pacificator,"  in 


56  THE    IIKV.    llII-IiKKI-     JKNNKNT. 

which  he  strongly  pleads  for  peace,  niul  .-i  re-union  of 
the  separated  parts  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  This 
desirable  event  was,  after  a  division  which  lasted  sev- 
enteen years,  and  after  long  negotiation,  accomplish- 
ed ;  and  Mr.  Gilbert  Tennent  entered  cordially  into 
the  measure.  Whatever  mistakes  he  fell  into  arose 
from  error  of  judgment,  in  regard  to  duty.  He  was, 
doubtless,  actuated  by  a  sincere  and  glowing  zeal 
for  the  honour  of  the  Redeemer,  and  the  salvation  of 
souls.  Like  the  sun,  he  was  a  burning  and  a  shin- 
ing light ;  but  like  that  luminar}',  had  some  dark 
spots,  which,  in  some  measure,  marred  the  beauty 
and  symmetry  of  his  otherwise  estimable  character. 
His  natural  disposition  appears  to  have  been  severe, 
and  uncompromising  ;  and  he  gave  strong  evidence 
of  being  very  tenacious  of  all  his  opinions  ;  and  not 
very  tolerant  of  those  who  dissented  from  his  views, 
as  appears  by  the  controversy  which  he  had  with 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Cowell,  of  Trenton ;  and  which  he 
brought  before  the  synod.  But  with  all  liis  faults 
he  was  an  extraordinary  man,  raised  up  by  Provi- 
dence to  accomplish  a  great  work.  We,  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church,  are  more  indebted  to  the  men  of 
the  Log  College  for  our  evangelical  views,  and  for 
our  revivals  of  religion,  than  we  are  aware  of.  By 
their  exertions,  and  the  blessing  of  God  on  their 
preaching,  a  new  spirit  was  infused  into  the  Presby- 
terian body ;  and  their  views  and  sentiments  respect- 
ing experimental  religion,  have  prevailed  more  and 


THE    REV.    GILBERT    TENXEXT.  57 

more ;  until  at  last,  opposition  to  genuine  revivals 
of  religion,  is  almost  unknown  in  our  cliurch.  It  is 
not  my  purpose  to  enter  into  the  ecclesiastical  trans- 
actions in  which  Mr.  Tennent  acted  an  important 
part,  any  further  than  is  necessary  to  form  a  judg- 
ment of  his  Christian  and  ministerial  character. 
They  who  desire  to  see  a  lucid  view  of  the  ecclesi- 
astical transactions  of  that  period,  are  referred  to  Dr. 
Hodge's  "  CoNSTiTUTioxAL  History  of  the  Pres- 
BTTERiAN  Church  ;"  or  they  may  go  to  the  fountain 
head,  by  consulting  the  "  Records  of  the  Transac- 
tions of  the  Synod,"  recently  given  to  the  public,  by 
ilie  "Board  of  Publication." 

We  have  seen  that  a  great  schism  was  produced 
in  the  Presbyterian  body,  by  a  ditlerence  of  opinion 
among  the  ministers  of  the  synod,  respecting  the 
great  revival  which  pervaded  many  of  the  churches. 
Ikit  though  tliis  was  the  proximate  cause  of  the 
division,  by  those  who  attentively  consider  the  his- 
tory of  that  time,  and  especially  the  "  Records"  of 
the  synod  itself,  it  will  be  seen,  that  this  event  was 
actually  produced  by  the  Log  College.  At  first 
view,  this  will  seem  very  improbable,  but  when  all 
the  documents  are  read,  and  all  the  circumstances 
of  the  church  weighed  and  compared,  it  will  appear 
exceedingly  probable,  that  the  erection  of  this  school 
of  tlie  prophets  was,  innocentily,  the  cause  of  the 
breach  which  took  place  in  1 74 1 .  Here  it  will  be 
necessary  to  enter  somewhat  minutolj'^  into  a  consi- 


58  THE    REV.    GILHERT    TENNENT. 

deration  of  the  condition  of  the  church,  prior  to  the 
commencement  of  the  revival.  A  hheral  education 
was  from  the  beginning,  considered  an  indispensable 
quahfication  for  the  gospel  ministry  in  the  Pres- 
byterian church.  The  usual  evidence  of  having 
received  such  an  education  was,  a  diploma  from 
some  college  or  university,  in  Europe  or  Ame- 
rica. The  Presbyterian  ministers,  before  the  erec- 
tion of^the  Log  College,  had,  nearly  all,  received 
such  an  education.  We  know  of  but  one  excep- 
tion, and  that  was  Mr.  Evans,  whose  case  has 
already  been  mentioned.  There  existed  no  college 
in  any  of  the  middle  states,  where  yoimg  men  seek- 
ing the  ministry,  could  obtain  the  requisite  learning. 
Until  this  school  was  instituted,  no  young  man  could 
enter  the  Presbyterian  ministry,  without  going  to 
Scotland  or  New  England  for  his  education;  and 
this  amounted  pretty  nearly  to  closing  the  door 
against  all  candidates  who  were  brought  up  in  the 
Presbyterian  church ;  for  very  few,  in  those  days, 
could  bear  the  expense  of  acquiring  a  liberal  educa- 
tion, by  gomg  to  any  college  or  imiversity,  on  this 
or  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic,  The  church,  there- 
fore, had  to  depend  for  a  supply  of  ministers  on  im- 
migrat  on  from  Scotland,  Ireland,  or  New  England. 
Most  of  those  who  came  to  settle  in  the  Presbyterian 
church,  came  from  Ireland;  except  that  those  pres- 
byteries which  bordered  on  New  England,  received 
a  supply  of  ministers  from  that  region.     It  must  be 


THE    REV.    GILBERT    TENNENT.  59 

evident,  at  once,  that  this  condition  of  the  church 
was  very  unfavourable  to  her  prosperity  ;  for  often, 
those  who  came  across  the  ocean,  were  not  men  of 
the  best  character.  They  were  often  mere  adven- 
turers, and  sometimes  had  crossed  the  Atlantic  to 
escape  from  the  censure  incurred  by  their  miscon- 
duct ;  and  it  was  exceedingly  difficult,  in  those  days, 
to  ascertain  the  true  character  of  a  foreigner,  coming 
here  as  a  minister  of  the  gospel ;  for  though  such 
men  commonly  exhibited  ample  testimonials  from 
abroad,  too  often  these  were  forged.  Several  in- 
stances of  this  very  thing  have  occurred.  And  as 
the  ministers  who  came  in  from  New  England  were 
all  brought  up  Congregationalists,  and  had  habits 
and  customs,  not  congenial  with  those  of  Scottish 
Presbyterians,  their  accession  to  the  body  had  a  ten- 
dency to  produce  confusion  and  strife.  The  sons  of 
the  pilgrims  and  the  descendants  of  Scottish  Presby- 
terians, though  holding  substantially  the  same  creed, 
have  never  readily  amalgamated  into  one  uniform 
mass :  but  the  habits  and  prejudices  of  each  have 
been  preserved,  and  kept  the  people  distinct  for 
several  generations,  though  living  contiguously  to 
each  other.  There  seemed,  therefore,  to  be  an  ur- 
gent necessity  for  some  seminary  to  be  erected  with- 
in the  limits  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  where 
young  men  might  be  educated  for  the  ministry.  It 
is  indeed  wonderful,  that  the  synod  had  not  paid 
earlier  attention  to  this  subject,  as  being  essential  to 


60  TlIK    «KV.    (lII.nERT    TKNNENT. 

tho  prosperity  of  tliR  clninli.  HiU  as  far  as  appears, 
no  classical  scliool  had  been  croctcd  in  any  part  of 
the  synod,  nntil  the  Rev.  William  Tennent  connected 
himself  with  the  Presbyterian  chnrch,  and  set  up  a 
school  at  his  own  door,  in  Neshaminy,  It  is  proba- 
ble, that  Mr,  Gilbert  Tennent  was  the  first  candi- 
date licensed  in  the  Presbyterian  church,  wlio  was 
educated  within  its  limits.  And  as  he  was  thirteen 
or  foiu'teen  years  of  age,  wlien  his  father  arrived,  it 
is  probable,  that  his  classical  education  was  com- 
menced before  he  left  Ireland ;  though  the  principal 
part  of  his  education  must  have  been  acquired  here  ; 
and  no  doubt,  under  the  paternal  roof  And  al- 
though we  have  connected  Mr.  G.  Temient  with  the 
Log  College,  it  must  be  in  the  character  of  a  teacher, 
rather  than  a  student ;  for  in  the  very  year  in  which 
his  father  removed  to  Neshaminy,  he  was  hcensed  to 
preach.     This  was  the  year  1726. 

Though  Gilbert  Tennent  had  received  no  diploma 
from  any  college ;  yet  he  passed  his  trials  before  the 
mother  presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  with  great  credit 
to  himself,  and  much  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  presby- 
tery. It  was  now  seen,  that  3'oung  men  could  be  well 
prepared  for  the  ministry  at  home,  without  going  to 
distant  colleges.  And  as  Mr.  William  Tennent,  the 
father,  had  been,  as  far  as  is  known,  the  sole  in- 
structor of  his  son,  who  as  soon  as  licensed,  attracted 
public  attention,  and  was  seen  to  be  an  able 
preacher,  the  conclusion   was  easily  drawn,  that 


TUE  REV.  GILBERT  TENNENT.  (j  1 

he  would  be  an  excellent  person  to  train  up  young 
men  for  the  ministry.  But  though  the  thing  ap- 
peared thus  to  many  plain  and  pious  people ; 
others  were  apprehensive,  that  by  educating  young 
men  in  this  way,  the  literary  qualifications  of  candi- 
dates would  necessarily  be  greatly  diminished.  The 
school,  however,  went  on  prosperously,  and  a  num- 
ber of  young  men,  who  had  the  ministry  in  view, 
resorted  to  the  Log  College, to  pursue  their  education; 
and  here  they  were  not  only  taught  the  classics ; 
but  studied  divinity  also  :  so  that  this  institution  was 
a  theological  seminary,  as  well  as  a  college.  How 
many  years  Ihey  were  occupied  with  these  studies, 
does  not  appear;  but  a  number  of  persons  educated 
in  this  school  were  licensed  by  the  presbyteries,  after 
undergoing  such  trials  as  were  usually  prescribed 
to  candidates,  in  Scotland  and  Ireland.  And  some 
of  them,  as  we  shall  see,  became  eminent  in  the 
church,  and  were  much  distinguished  as  powerful 
and  evangelical  preachers.  Still  the  impression  ex- 
isted, and  grew  stronger,  that  this  course  of  instruc- 
tion was  not  sufficient.  To  men  educated  in  the 
universities  of  Europe,  furnished  with  so  many  pro- 
fessors, and  other  advantages,  it  seemed  preposterous 
to  suppose,  that  a  man  could  acquire  adequate  learn- 
ing for  the  ministry,  in  this  little,  paltry  log-cabin ; 
and  instructed,  principally,  by  one  teacher.  They 
began,  therefore,  in  the  synod,  to  talk  of  establishing 
a  synodical  school,  and  to   express  dissatisfaction 


62  TIIK   REV.  GILBERT  TENNENT. 

with  the  course  of  study  in  the  Log  College,  as  it 
was  contemptuously  called.  None  doubted  of  old 
Mr.  Tennent's  classical  scholarship  ;  but  it  was  be- 
heved  that  his  proficiency  in  the  arts  and  sciences 
was  by  no  means  equal  to  his  classical  learning. 
And  as  young  men  were  still  entering  the  church 
from  this  school,  the  synod  adopted  a  rule,  that  no 
presbytery  should  license  any  young  man  until  he 
had  passed  an  examination  on  his  literary  course, 
before  a  committee  of  synod.  Two  large  commit- 
tees, one  for  the  northern  part  of  the  synod,  and  the 
other  for  the  south,  were  appointed,  before  whom 
young  men  were  to  appear  and  submit  to  an  exami- 
nation. This  rule  gave  great  dissatisfaction  to  the  Ten- 
nents  and  their  friends;  for  they  perceived,  at  once, 
that  this  rule  was  intended  to  bear  on  the  students  of 
the  Log  College,  and  they  believed  it  to  be  a  high- 
handed measure,  entirely  inconsistent  with  the  rights 
of  presbyteries,  who,  as  they  had  the  power  of  or- 
daining ministers,  ought  to  possess  the  power  of 
judging  of  their  qualifications.  And  what  rendered 
the  measure  more  odious  to  them,  they  had  just  suc- 
ceeded in  getting  a  presbytery  set  off,  in  New  Jer- 
sey, which  included  most  of  the  friends  of  the  Log 
College.  Their  object  in  getting  this  presbytery 
erected,  as  they  confessed  to  Mr.  ^^^litefield,  was, 
that  they  might  license  such  young  men  as  they 
deemed  properly  qualified  for  the  office ;  and,  in 
their  opinion,  fervent  piety  was  the  first  and  prin- 


THE   REV.   GILHERT    (KNNENT.  63 

cipal  qualification  ;  though  they  beUeved  a  classical 
education  necessary  ;  yet  it  seems  that  they  lightly 
esteemed  some  parts  of  learning,  which  the  other 
members  of  the  synod  thought  requisite.  And  while 
they  were  blamed  for  being  too  lax  in  their  de- 
mands of  a  knowledge  of  literature  and  science,  they 
seriously  charged  the  majority  of  the  synod  with  neg- 
lecting to  make  a  thorough  examination  into  the  piety 
of  their  candidates.  And  on  several  occasions,  Mr. 
Gilbert  Tennent  brought  this  matter  before  the  synod, 
and  obtained  from  them  some  formal  resolutions,  in 
favour  of  inquiring  carefully  into  the  personal  piety 
of  the  candidates.  And  when  the  order  was  passed, 
rendering  it  necessary  for  candidates  to  appear  be- 
fore a  committee  of  the  synod,  Mr.  Gilbert  Tennent 
and  his  friends  entered  their  protest  against  the  regu- 
lation. But  to  be  more  exact  in  regard  to  this  first 
measure,  which  divided  the  synod  into  two  parties,  it 
will  be  proper  to  observe,  that  the  regulation  adopted 
in  the  year  1738,  was  occasioned  by  an  overture 
from  the  presbytery  of  Lewes,  in  which  they  sa)'", 
"That  this  part  of  the  world,  where  God  has  ordered 
our  lot,  labours  under  grievous  disadvantage  for 
want  of  the  opportunities  of  universities,  and  pro- 
fessors skilled  in  the  several  branches  of  useful 
learning ;  and  that  many  students  from  Europe,  are 
especially  cramped  in  prosecuting  their  studies ; 
their  parents  removing  to  these  colonies  before  they 

have  an  opportunity  of  attending  the  college,  after 
E 


M  Jui;  lujv.  (;iLi!Kur  rEXNExr. 

having  spent  some  years  at  the  grammar  sclioof ; 
and  that  many  persons,  born  in  this  country,  groan 
under  the  same  pressure,  whosa  circurr.<stanccs  are 
not  able  to  support  them  to  spend  a  course  of  years 
in  the  European  or  New  England  colleges,  which 
discourages  much,  and  must  be  a  detriment  to  our 
church,  for  we  know  that  natural  parts,  however 
great  and  promising,  for  want  of  being  well  im- 
proved, must  be  marred  in  their  usefulness,  and 
cannot  be  so  extensively  serviceable  to  the  public ; 
and  that  want  paves  the  Avay  for  ignorance,  and 
this  for  a  formidable  train  of  sad  consequences.  To 
prevent  this  evil,  it  is  humbly  proposed,  as  a  reme- 
dy, that  every  student,  with  approbation  not  pursu- 
ing the  usual  courses,  in  some  of  the  New  England 
or  European  colleges  approved  by  public  authority, 
shalljbefore  he  be  encouraged  by  any  presbytery  for 
the  sacred  work  of  the  ministry,  apply  himself  to 
this  synod,  and  that  they  appoint  a  committee  of 
their  members,  yearly,  whom  tliey  know  to  be  well 
skilled  in  the  several  branches  of  philosophy,  divi- 
nity, and  the  languages,  to  examine  such  students, 
n  this  place,  and  finding  them  well  accomplished  in 
these  several  parts  of  learning,  shall  allow  them  a 
public  testimony  from  the  synod,  which,  till  better 
provision  be  made,  will,  in  some  measure,  answer 
the  design  of  taking  a  degree  in  college.  And,  for 
the  encouragement  of  students,  let  this  be  done 
without  putting  them  to  further  expenses  than  attend- 


THE  REV.  GILBERT  TEXNENT.  65 

lag.  And  let  it  be  an  objection  against  none  where 
they  have  studied,  or  what  books ;  but  let  all  en- 
couragement be  only  according  to  merit,  &c."  The 
synod,  by  a  great  majority,  approved  the  overture, 
and  proceeded  to  appoint  two  committees,  the  one 
for  the  region  north  of  Philadelphia,  and  the  otiier 
for  the  country  south  of  that  city. 

It  does  not  appear  that  any  dissent  or  protest  was 
entered  on  the  mumtes  at  the  time,  but  the  next 
year,  the  presbytery  of  New  Brunswick  sent  up  a 
I'emonstrance.  The  paper  containing  the  objections 
to  the  act  of  the  synod  of  the  proceeding  year,  is  not 
on  the  records ;  bsit  the  synod  upon  hearing  it^ 
agreed  to  re-consider  the  subject,  and  after  due  de- 
liberation, resolved  to  substitute  the  following,  in- 
stead of  the  act  complained  of  "  It  being  the  first 
article  in  our  excellent  Directory  for  the  examina- 
tion of  the  candidates  for  the  sacred  ministry,  that 
they  be  inquired  of,  Avhat  degrees  they  have  taken 
in  the  university,  &c.  And  it  being  oftentimes  im- 
practicable for  us,  in  these  remote  parts  of  the  earth, 
to  obtain  an  answer  to  these  questions,  of  those 
who  propose  themselves  to  examination,  many  of 
our  candidates  not  having  enjoyed  the  advantage  of 
a  university  education,  and  it  being  our  desire  to 
come  to  the  nearest  conformity  to  the  incomparable 
prescriptions  of  the  Directory,  that  our  circumstances 
will  ajjmit  of,  and  after  long  deliberation  of  the  most 

proper  expedients  to  comply  witli  tlie  intentions  of 

K2 


G6  TiiK   nrv.   cii.inoiiT  TnNXE.vr. 

llie  Din^ctory,  wluTc  Wf  (Miiiiot  exactly  fulfil  tlio  (ot- 
ter of  it :  llic  synod  u^rce  and  detcrniine,  thai  every 
person  who  proposes  himself  to  trial,  as  a  candidate 
for  the  ministry,  and  wlio  has  not  a  diploma,  or 
the  usual  certificates  from  an  PJuropean  or  New 
England  university,  shall  be  examined  by  the  whole 
synod,  or  its  commission,  as  to  these  preparatory 
studies,  which  we  generally  pass  through  at  the  col- 
lege ;  and  if  they  find  him  qualified,  they  shall  give 
liim  a  certificate,  which  shall  be  received  by  our  re- 
spective presbyteries,  as  equivalent  to  a  diploma,  or 
certificate  from  the  college,  &c."  ]5ut,  this  form  of 
the  act  was  no  more  acceptable  to  the  New  Bruns- 
wick presbytery  than  the  former;  the  next  day, 
therefore,  they  entered  a  protest  against  the  said 
act.  This  protest  was  signed  by  the  four  Tennents 
Samuel  Blair,  and  Eleazer  Wales,  ministers,  and  by 
four  elders.  The  synod,  it  appears,  were  determined 
to  bring  the  pupils  of  the  Log  College,  under  their 
own  examination,  before  they  would  suffer  any 
more  of  them  to  be  received  as  members  of  the 
synod,  or  to  preach  as  candidates  in  the  churches. 
And  the  friends  of  this  institution  were  exceedingly 
averse  to  having  their  young  men  examined  by 
the  synod  ;  either,  because  they  were  conscious  that 
they  would  be  found  defective  in  some  of  the 
branches  usually  pursued  in  the  college  course,  or, 
because  they  were  of  opinion  that  the  major  part  of 
the  synod  were  prejudiced  against  this  humble  in- 


THE    REV.    GILBERT    TENNEXT.  G7 

stitiUion,  and  against  all  who  were  connected  with 
it.  Probably,  both  these  considerations  had  their 
weight,  in  leading  them  to  oppose  so  strenuously  a 
measure,  which  to  us  seems  reasonable  and  necessa- 
ry, to  guard  the  ministry  against  the  intrusion  of 
unqualified  candidates.  For,  it  appears,  that  this 
examination,  by  the  synod,  was  not  intended  to  in- 
terfere witli  the  right  of  presbyteries  to  examine 
their  candidates ;  but  to  be  a  substitute  for  a  diplo- 
ma, which  the  Directory  seemed  to  require.  For 
when  a  young  man  presented  his  certificate  to  a 
presbytery,  if,  upon  examination,  they  were  not  sat- 
isfied, they  could  reject  him  notwithstanding  his  cer- 
tificate. 

But  the  fact  was,  tliat  the  New  Brunswick  pres- 
bytery had  already  connnitted  themselves.  At  their 
very  first  meeting,  in  August  1738,  they  took  on 
trial  a  certain  Mr.  Rowland,  one  of  the  scholars  of 
the  Log  College,  in  direct  violation  of  the  act  of  the 
synod.  And  after  the  synod  had  re-considered  the 
matter,  and  re-enacted  the  same  thing,  in  different 
words,  this  presbytery  proceeded  with  the  trials  of 
Mr.  Rowland,  and  licensed  him  to  preach  the 
gospel.  And,  not  long  afterwards,  ordained  him. 
The  synod  refused  to  recognise  Mr,  Rowland  as  a 
member  of  their  body ;  for,  though  they  did  not 
deny  that  by  the  act  of  the  presbytery  he  was  a  real 
minister;  yet,  they  alleged,  that  they  had  a  right  to 

determine  who  should  and  who  should  not  become 
E3 


68  THE    REV.    (JILHERT    TENNENT. 

members  of  their  own  body.  Ilencefortli,  the  parties 
became  much  exasperated  against  each  other.  The 
friends  of  the  Log  College  saw,  that  the  act  of  the 
synod  was  directed  against  that  institution,  for  there 
was  no  otJK'r  school  at  that  time,  in  the  bounds  of 
the  synod,  whore  young  men  were  trained  for  tlie 
ministry.  And  this  was  not  all.  The  act  implied  a 
reflection  on  all  those  who  liad  before  entered  the 
muiistry  from  this  school.  And  the  majority  of 
synod  were  grievously  offended,  that  one  of  their 
presbyteries,  and  one  too  just  created,  should  so  dis- 
regard the  authority  of  the  supreme  judicatory  of 
the  church,  as  to  act  in  open  defiance  of  an  act 
formed  after  much  discussion  and  deliberation,  in  the 
synod, 

One  thing  necessary  to  be  known,  in  order  to 
form  an  impartial  judgment  respecting  the  dispute 
which  arose  in  the  synod,  but  which  cannot  at  this 
distance  of  time  be  accm'ately  ascertained,  is,  what 
sort  of  education  was  actually  received  at  this  fa- 
mous institution.  Was  it  as  sohd  and  thorough  as 
could  be  obtained  within  the  limits  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian church?  If  so,  even  if  compared  with  that 
which  was  given  in  the  imiversities  of  Europe,  it 
was  in  some  parts  defective,  this  was  no  good  reason 
why  the  institution  should  be  frowned  upon,  by  the 
synod.  Instead  of  this,  they  ought  to  have  recog- 
nised and  cherished  it,  and  should  have  endeavoured 
to  raise  it  higher,  and  to  enlarge  its  advantages.     As 


THE    REV.    GILHEUT    TENNENT.  69 

far  as  wc  have  observed,  this  school,  ahhoiigh  al- 
ready it  had  produced  a  number  of  distinguished 
preachers,  is  never  once  mentioned  in  the  minutes 
of  the  sjaiod ;  except  in  their   letter   to   President 
Clapp,  of  which  further  notice  will  be  taken.     It  is 
true,  that  most  of  the  members  of  synod  had  en- 
joyed the  advantages  of  an  university  education, 
in  Europe   or   New   England;    and   it   cannot  be 
supposed  that  equal   advantages  could  be  had  in 
the   little    Log   Cabin  at   Neshamhiy.       But    it   is 
a  well  known  fact,  that  men's  eminence  in  learn- 
ing, does  not  always  correspond  with  the  privileges 
enjoyed.     If  we  compare  Gilbert  Tennent,  Samuel 
Blair,  Samuel  Finley,  William  Tennent,  jr.,  and  John 
Blair,  Avith  an  equal  number  of  their  opposers,  they 
certainly  will  not  suffer  in  public  opinion,  by  the 
comparison.     And   one   advantage   they   possessed 
who  were   educated  in  the  Log  College,  that  the 
spirit  of  piety  seems  to  have  been  nourished  in  that 
institution.     All,  as  far  as  we  can  learn,  who  pro- 
ceeded from  this  school,  were  men  of  sound  ortho- 
doxy, evangelical  spirit,  glowing  zeal,  and  in  labours 
very  abundant.     They  had,  we  have  reason  to  be- 
lieve, the  teaching  of  the  Holy  Spirit ;  and  without 
the  advantages  which  others  enjoyed,  they  became 
"burning   and   shining    lights."      They    were    the 
friends  and  promoters  of  revivals  of  religion,  which 
their  ce usurers  bitterly  opposed.     Still,  we  do  not 
justify  their  irro2:ular  and   insubordinate   arts.     Gil- 


70  THF     HKV.    (IIMU'.RT    TF.NNEXT. 

l)ort  Tcniifiit  and  Saniiicl  lilair  wore  iiu'ii  of  iiivin- 
cihlo  firmness — a  firmness,  bordoring  on  obstinacy. 
They  were  the  leaders  in  this  warfare.  They  saw 
a  great  harvest  before  them,  and  the  Lord  seemed  to 
attend  their  labours  every  where  with  a  blessing,  and 
they  were  led  to  think,  that  mere  forms  of  order, 
and  regulations  of  ecclcsiastieal  bodies  were  of  triv- 
ial importanee,  compared  with  the  advancement  of 
the  Redcmer's  kingdom,  and  the  salvation  of  souls. 
They  felt,  as  did  the  apostles,  and  first  reformers, 
that  they  were  called  to  go  eveiy  where  preaching 
the  gospel,  without  regard  to  prescribed  limits  of 
presbyteries  or  congregations ;  especially,  as  they 
observed,  that  many  pastors  neglected  to  inculcate 
on  their  hearers,  the  necessity  of  a  change  of  heart, 
and  that  the  people  were  as  really  ])erisliing  for  lack 
of  knowledge,  as  they  were  under  Jewish  or  Popish 
instructors.  They  felt  themselves  bound,  therefore, 
to  preach  far  and  wide,  wherever  the  people  would 
hear  them ;  and  although  there  was  irregularity  in 
this,  judging  by  human  and  ecclesiastical  rules ;  3'et 
I  doubt  not,  that  in  the  main,  their  zealous  and  ex- 
hausting labours  have  met  with  a  large  reward. 
Weak  enthusiasts,  or  fierce  fanatics  may  abuse  the 
principle  on  which  they  acted ;  but  the  same  thing 
occurred  at  the  time  of  the  blessed  reformation  from 
popery.  We  must  not  neglect  to  do  all  the  good  we 
can  because  some  may  pervert  our  example,  to  sanc- 
?joji  their  own  lawless  proceedings. 


THE  REV.  GILBERT  TENVEXT.  71 

I  cannot  express  how  much  the  Presbyterian 
church,  in  these  United  States,  is  indebted  to  the 
labours  of  this  very  corps,  who  studied  successfully 
the  sacred  oracles  in  the  Log  College  ;  or  more 
probably,  under  the  beautiful  groves  which  shaded 
the  banks  of  the  Neshaminy.  There  they  studied, 
and  there  they  prayed. 

But  I  do  not  mean  to  justify  all  that  was  done  by 
these  zealous  men.  As  was  admitted  before,  they 
did  not  act  towards  their  brethren  in  the  ministry, 
with  brotherly  affection,  and  Christian  meekness. 
Gilbert  Tennent  indulged  himself  in  very  unwarranta- 
ble language  in  speaking  of  men  clothed  with  the  same 
office  as  himself,  and  members  of  the  same  synod. 
Nothing  could  have  justified  his  treatment  of  them, 
unless  he  had  been  inspired  to  know  that  they  were 
a  set  of  hypocrites,  or,  unless  their  lives  had  been 
wicked,  or  their  faith  heretical ;  none  of  which  things 
were  alleged  against  them. 

But  while  it  is  admitted,  that  Mr.  Gilbert  Tennent 
was  a  principal  instrument  in  provoking  a  majority 
of  the  synod  to  exscind  the  New  Brimswick  pres- 
bytery, it  does  not  appear,  that  either  he,  or  his 
friends  wished  to  bring  about  a  separation  in  the 
church.  Their  object  was  to  produce  a  reformation, 
if  possible,  among  the  ministers,  and  in  the  churches 
under  the  care  of  the  synod  ;  though  it  must  be 
acknowledged,  that  their  zeal  led  them  to  make  use 
of  unjustifiable  means  to  accomplish  the  desired  end. 


72  THE   KKV.  c.iunEnr  tennent. 

It  need  not,  therefore,  be  a  niattcT  of  surprize,  that 
(iilbert  Tennent  was  among  the  first  to  seek  a  re- 
conciliation and  re-union  of  the  parties.  To  pro- 
mote this  object,  lie  wrote  and  pnbUshed  a  pamphlet, 
entitled,  "Tiik  Pa(  ificatok,"  in  which  he  reasons 
strongly  in  favour  of  peace  and  union.  Between 
the  contending  parties,  there  existed,  really,  no  dif- 
ference on  doctrinal  points  ;  except  that  the  New 
Side  were  blamed  for  dwelling  too  much  on  the 
terrors  of  the  law,  and  insisting  too  strongly  on  the 
necessity  of  legal  conviction  for  sin.  And  on  church 
government  there  was  scarcely  a  shade  of  ditference. 
The  members  of  the  New  Brunswick  presbytery  were 
disposed  to  consider  presbyteries,  as  the  origin  of  ec- 
clesiasticcal  power  ;  while  the  majority  of  the  synod 
probably  thought,  that  all  the  power  of  the  church 
was  concentrated  in  the  synod,  then  the  supreme 
judicatory.  And  the  same  difference  of  opinion 
still  exists  in  the  Presbyterian  Church,  for  while 
some  are  of  opinion,  that  synods  and  General  As- 
semblies possess  limited  powers,  defined  by  the  con- 
stitution of  the  church,  and  that  all  ecclesiastical 
power  emanates  from  the  presbyteries,  which  they 
consider  the  essential  body  in  our  church  govern- 
ment ;  there  are  others,  who  consider  the  synod  in 
no  other  light  than  a  larger  presbytery ;  and  the  Gene- 
ral Assembly,  as  it  were,  a  universal  presbytery,  pos- 
sessing all  the  powers  of  the  inferior  judicatories. 
Whichever  of  these  be  the  more  cor  rcct  ihcoiv  of  ou 


THK    REV.    GILBERT    TEXXEXT.  73 

Presbyterian  church  government,  the  presbytery  of 
New  Brunswick  has  always  been  firm  in  maintaining 
the  rights  of  presbyteries  against  the  encroachments 
of  the  higher  judicatories.  And,  certainly,  our  higher 
judicatories  were  constituted  by  the  junction  of 
presbyteries.  In  Scotland,  the  General  Assembly 
existed  before  there  were  either  presbyteries  or 
synods,  and  all  church  power  descended  from  that 
body ;  but  not  so  with  us,  where  presbyteries  first 
existed,  of  which  the  higher  judicatories  were  formed. 


CIIAPTEU  Y. 

Mr,  Gilbert  Tcnncnt  removes  to  Philadelphia  to  be  the  pastor  of  the 
Second  Presbyterian  church. — Mission  to  Great  Britain  for  the 
College  of  New  Jersey — Exertions  to  get  a  commodious  church 
erected — His  Sickness  and  Death — Eulogy  on  his  character — 
His  Publications. 

The  preaching  of  Mr.  Whitcfickl,  in  Philadelphia, 
was  the  means  of  the  conversion  of  many  souls.  A 
number  of  these,  with  others  who  agreed  with  them 
in  sentiment,  and  were  admirers  of  Mr.  Whitefield's 
preaching,  and  friends  of  the  revival,  had  formed  a 
new  Presbyterian  congregation,  in  that  city.  And 
being  desirous  to  obtain  a  pastor  of  like  views  and 
sentiments  with  themselves,  and  one  possessed  of 
talents  and  eloquence  suited  to  such  a  station,  turned 
their  eyes  upon  the  Rev.  Gilbert  Tennent.  Their 
call  to  him  was  presented  in  INIay,  1743,  just  two 
years  after  the  rupture  of  the  synod,  which  took 
place,  in  the  same  city.  Mr.  Tennent  did  not  hesi- 
tate to  accept  this  call,  as  he  saw  that  the  sphere  of 
his  influence  would  be  greatly  enlarged.  He  M'as, 
therefore,  regularly  released  from  his  pastoral 
charge  in  New  Brunswick,  where  he  had  preached 
for  sixteen  years.  In  the  important  station,  on 
which  he  now  entered,  he  continued  to  exercise  his 


THE    REV.    GILBERT    TEXXENT.  75 

ministry  with  great  fidelity  and  diligence,  for  twenty 
years.  During  this  whole  period,  comprehending 
more  than  one  half  of  his  ministerial  hfe,  he  seems 
to  have  lived  in  peace  v/ith  all  men.  The  fiery 
edge  of  his  zeal  had  worn  off,  and  he  had  found  by 
experience,  that  neither  people  nor  ministers  were 
ever  rendered  better  by  vituperative  attacks  from  the 
pulpit,  or  the  press.  During  the  whole  of  the  latter 
part  of  his  hfe,  Mr.  Gilbert  Tennent,  as  far  as  has 
come  to  our  knowledge,  never  had  any  controversy 
with  any  of  his  brethren,  but  seems  to  have  con- 
ducted himself  in  a  friendly,  and  peaceable  manner, 
toward  all  men.  From  this  it  would  seem,  that  he 
was  not  of  a  quarrelsome  or  litigious  spirit.  And  it 
may  hence  be  fairly  inferred,  that  the  warm  contro- 
versies in  which  lie  engaged  with  his  brethren  of 
the  synod  of  Philadelphia,  were  entered  into  con- 
scientiously, and  on  principle.  And  we  have  no 
doubt,  that  in  this  whole  concern,  he  was,  at  the 
time,  fully  persuaded,  that  he  was  doing  God  service, 
and  performing  a  painful  duty  toward  his  opposing 
brethren,  which  he  could  not  with  a  good  con- 
science omit.  But  as  was  before  said,  we  are 
of  opiuion  that  he  was  mistaken  and  proceeded  on 
an  erroneous  principle ;  and  there  is  good  reason  to 
think,  that  he  was  of  the  same  opinion  himself,  in 
this  latter  part  of  his  life. 

The  only  interruption  of  his  pastoral  labours,  in 
Philadelphia,  was  occasioned  by  a  mission  to  Great 


70  IMF.    KKV.    OII.IIKUT    TENXK^T. 

Jiritain,  in  coiijuiiction  with  tlif-  Rev.  Samuel  Davies, 
of  Virginia,  for  the  College  of  New  Jersey.     At  the 
request  of  the  Trustees  of  New  Jersey  College,  the 
Synod  of  New  York  appointed  these  two  gentlemen, 
to  cross  the  Atlantic,  to  solicit  funds  for  the  College. 
The  mission  was,  in  a  good  degree,  successful ;  but 
of  this  our  only  account  is  found  in  the  diary  of 
the   Rev.  INIr.   Davies.     It   does   not    appear,  that 
Mr.    Tennent    ever   kept    any   journal,  or    diary, 
at  home    or    abroad.      From   Mr.    Davies's  jour- 
nal we  learn,  that  he  and  Mr.  Tennent  went  on  board 
a  vessel  bound  for  London,  Nov.  17,  1753,  and  on 
the  next  day,  set  sail.     They  arrived  in  London,  on 
the  25th  of  December,  and  were  well  received.     We 
are  unable  to  give  any  account  of  ]Mr.  Tennent's 
preaching  and  its  effects  on  the  people  whom  he 
addressed,  for  he  and   Mr.  Davies  seem  to  have 
been  separated  from  each  other,  for  the  most  part. 
But  in  regard  to  the  direct  object  of  their  mission, 
he  says,  under  date  of  April  7,  1754,  "  "We  have  had 
most  surprising  success  in  our  mission ;  which,  not- 
withstanding the  languor  of  my  nature,  I  cannot  re- 
view without  passionate  emotions.     From  the  best 
information  of  our  friends,  and  our  own  observation 
on  our  arrival  here,  we  could  not  raise  our  hopes 
above  jC300,  but  we  have  already  got  about  £1200. 
Our  friends  in  America  cannot  hear  the  news  with 
the  same  surprise,  as  they  do  not  know  the  difficul- 
ties we  have  had  to  encounter  with ;  but  to  me  it  ap- 


THE    REV.    GILBERT    TENNEXT.  /  / 

pears  the  most  signal  interposition  of  Providence,  I 
ever  saw." 

While  Mr.  Gilbert  Tennent  was  in  Great  Britain, 
a  friend  to  the  conversion  of  the  Indians,  put  into  his 
hands,  two  hundred  pounds  sterling,  to  be  made  use 
of  by  the  synod  of  New'  York,  in  sending  missiona- 
ries to  these  heathen  tribes.  This  seems  to  have 
excited,  for  a  time,  a  considerable  missionary  spirit 
among  the  ministers  in  connexion  with  this  synod. 
Several  pastors,  who  had  charges,  went  on  tempo- 
rary missions  ;  and  Mr.  John  Brainerd  devoted  him- 
self wholly  to  the  work,  among  the  tribes  who  reside 
in  New  Jersey. 

John  Brainerd  was  the  brother  of  David,  whose 
devoted  missionary  life  is  so  well  known,  and  has 
had  so  powerful  an  effect  in  exciting  the  missionary 
spirit.  His  brother  succeeded  him,  supported  by  the 
same  society  in  Scotland,  which  had  supported  him- 
self. But  after  some  time  he  relinquished  the  mis- 
sionary work  and  accepted  a  pastoral  charge  in  the 
town  of  Newark,  New  Jersey.  The  contribution 
from  Scotland  was  now  withdrawn,  as  there  was  no 
missionary  among  the  Indians.  But  when  Mr.  Ten- 
nent returned  with  the  aforementioned  sum,  appro- 
priated to  this  object,  the  synod  of  New  York,renewed 
their  missionary  enterprise  :  and  as  the  very  name  of 
Brainerd  was  precious  to  the  Indians  of  New  Jersey, 
Mr.  John  Brainerd  by  the  advice  of  the  synod,  re- 
signed his  charge  and  returned  to  the  Indians. 


78  THE    REV.    OILBERT    TKNNKNT. 

"  The  Rev.  Messrs.  Tennent  and  Davies,  when  in 
Great  Britain,  reccvcd  from  various  persons,  in  Lon- 
don, the  sum  of  £'2f)8  17s.  'for  the  education  of  such 
youth  for  the  ministry  of  the  gospel,  in  the  College 
of  New  Jersey,  as  arc  unable  to  defray  the  expenses 
of  their  education;  who  appear  upon  proper  exami- 
nation to  be  of  promising  genius,  Calvinistic  princi- 
ples, and  in  the  judgment  of  charity,  experimentally 
acquainted  with  the  work  of  saving  grace,  and  to 
have  distinguished  zeal  for  the  glory  of  God,  and 
the  salvation  of  men.'  The  annual  interest  of  the 
aforesaid  sum  only  was  to  be  appropriated.  To 
this  sum  was  added  by  another  donor,  jBIO  7s.  6d., 
making  the  whole  of  this  charitable  fund  to  be 
£307  4s.  Gd. 

"  The  money  aforesaid  was,  by  Messrs.  Tennent 
and  Davies  put  into  the  hands  of  the  Trustees  of 
New  Jersey  College,  to  be  applied  to  the  education 
of  such  youth,  of  the  character  above  mentioned,  as 
shall  be  examined  and  approved  by  the  synod  of 
New  York,  (or  by  what  name  soever,  that  body  of 
men  may  be  hereafter  called)  and  by  them  recom- 
mended to  the  trustees  of  said  college,  and  to  be 
divided  among  such  youths,  in  proportion  as  said 
synod  shall  think  fit."  To  the  above  sums,  fifty 
pounds  sterling  were  added,  by  an  individual, making 
the  Avhole  sum  £357  4s.  6d.* 

*  This  fund  was  nearly  all  lost  during  the  revolutionar)- 
war. 


THE    REV.    GILBERT    TENNENT.  79 

A  report  has  attained  some  currency,  that  Mr. 
Tennent  and  Mr.  Davies  did  not  perfectly  harmo- 
nize, when  on  this  mission ;  but  though  it  is  possible 
that  some  coohiess  may  have  arisen  between  these 
eminent  ministers,  there  is  not  any  written  document 
where  we  have  seen  the  least  hint  of  any  difference. 
And  from  the  suavity  of  Mr,  Davies's  disposition,  and 
the  perfect  politeness  of  his  manners,  we  cannot  think 
that  there  is  any  foundation  for  the  report.  The  men, 
it  is  true,  in  natural  disposition,  were  not  altogether 
congenial;  for  while  the  manners  of  one  were  polished 
and  calculated  to  please,  it  is  probable,  those  of  the 
other  were  rough,  blunt,  and  not  at  all  courtly.  We 
shall  therefore,  dismiss  this  report  as  one  of  the  thou- 
sands which  have  no  probable  foundation.  No  doubt, 
Mr.  Davies  earned  off  the  palm,  as  to  popularity,  in 
London,  and  other  places ;  and  if  Mr.  Tennent  was 
at  all  susceptible  of  the  feelings  of  envy,  which  are 
very  natural  to  the  human  heart,  and  the  remains 
of  which  are  often  found  lurking  in  the  hearts  of 
ministers,  as  well  as  others,  he  might  have  felt 
badly  in  finding  himself  eclipsed  by  a  much  younger 
man.  But  as  was  said,  we  have  no  right  to  charge 
him  with  any  such  feeling,  and  we  arc  confident, 
that  Mr.  Davies's  treatment  of  him,  must  have  been 
uniformly  respectful  and  affectionate  ;  for  it  was  so 
to  everybody. 

After  Mr.  Tenncnt's  settlement  in  Philadelphia, 
he  exerted  himself  with  great  energy,  and  perse- 


80  THK    REV.    GILHKUI'     IKN.SENT. 

verance,  to  get  a  good  house  of  worship  erected  for 
the  congregation  which  lie  served.  Indeed,  at  that 
time,  the  building  of  such  an  edifice  as  that  which 
by  his  indefatigable  exertions  was  erected  at  tlie 
northeast  corner,  at  the  intersection  of  Mulberry 
and  Third  streets,  for  the  second  Presbyterian  church* 
in  Philadelphia,  was  a  great  work.  Very  few  of 
the  Presbyterian  denomination  then,  possessed  much 
wealth.  Mr.  Tenhent  not  only  obtained  nearly  all 
the  subscriptions  for  the  building,  but  actually  su- 
perintended the  work,  in  person,  and  assiduously 
watched  over  it,  from  its  commencement  to  its  com- 
pletion. After  some  time,  the  congregation  added  a 
handsome  steeple  to  the  building. 

Such  men  as  Mr.  Gilbert  Temient  always  appear 
greatest  in  times  of  excitement,  and  stirring  activity. 
It  may  well  be  doubted,  whether  his  preaching  was 
as  awakening  and  impressive,  after  his  removal  to 
Philadelphia,  as  it  was  before.  Some  change  in  his 
views  and  feelings,  as  to  the  best  method  of  pro- 
moting religion  had  talcen  place,  it  would  be  very 
natural  to  suppose.  Tlie  warmth  of  his  religious 
feelings  had  in  some  measure  cooled,  and  the  vio- 
lence of  his  zeal  had,  by  time  and  experience,  been 
mitigated.  From  this  time  he  seems  to  have  gone 
along  as  quietly  as  other  ministers  aroimd  him.  We 
thus  judge,  because  we  have  never  heard  of  any  re- 
markable effects  of  his  preaching,  after  his  settlement 
in   Philadelphia.     There   is   another    thing   which 


THE    KEV.  GILBEUT    TENNENT.  81 

ought  not  to  be  overlooked.  In  a  great  city,  the 
hearers  are  more  fastidious  than  in  the  country,  and 
will  not  tolerate  so  much  liberty  of  digression,  and 
so  frequent  departures  from  good  taste  and  correct 
composition.  Before  Mr.  Gilbert  Tennent  went 
to  Philadelphia,  though,  doubtless,  he  studied  his 
sermons  carefully,  and  digested  his  matter  under 
a  sufficient  variety  of  heads,  yet  he  preached  with- 
out having  written  his  discourses,  and  like  all  ardent 
preachers,  gave  himself  great  mdulgence,  in  pursu- 
ing any  new  train  of  ideas  which  was  presented 
during  the  time  of  preaching.  But  when  settled  in 
a  great  city,  he  thought  it  necessaiy,  for  the  sake  of 
correctness,  to  write  his  sermons,  and  read  them  from 
the  pulpit.  This  circumstance  alone,  probably, 
produced  a  great  alteration  in  his  mode  of  preaching. 
Many  men  who  preach  admirably  when  free  to  fol- 
low the  thoughts  which  they  have  arranged,  or  to 
pursue  such  as  spring  up  at  the  time,  when  confined 
to  a  discourse  written  in  the  study,  appear  to  be  very 
much  cramped,  and  lose  much  of  their  vivacity  and 
natural  eloquence.  The  writer  once  conversed  with 
a  plain  and  pious  man,  who  in  early  life  being  ap- 
prenticed to  a  trade  in  Philadelphia,  attended  Mr. 
Terment's  ministry.  We  asked  him  respecting  his 
manner  of  preaching.  He  answered  simply,  '*  that 
Mr.  Tennent  was  never  worth  any  thing  after  he 
came  to  Philadelphia ;"  "  for,"  said  he,  "  he  took  to, 
reading  his  sermons,  and  lost  all  his  animation." 


82  THK   RKV.   (;n.nKHT    J  ENNKNT. 

This  testimony  ciunc  from  a  class  not  sufficiently 
considered,  when  the  best  mode  of  preaching  is  un- 
der consideration.  Our  reference  is  too  much  to  the 
taste  of  men  of  cultivated  minds,  who  form  but  a 
small  part  of  any  congregation ;  and  even  these, 
when  pious,  are  better  pleased  with  blundering  sim- 
plicity joined  with  animation,  than  with  cold  accvi- 
racy,  when  the  most  solermi  truths  arc  delivered 
without  emotion. 

INIr.  Tennent,  however,  though  he  probably  lost  a 
considerable  portion  of  his  early  vehemence  and 
impressiveness  ;  yet  composed  discourses,  sound  and 
instructive.  This  will  appear  more  clearly  when  we 
come  to  speak  of  his  writings. 

The  interest  of  Mr.  Gilbert  Temient  in  revivals, 
and  his  joy  at  the  conversion  of  siimers,  continued 
imabated.  For  in  March  1757,  an  extraordinary 
revival  of  religion  occurred  in  the  New  Jersey  col- 
lege, concerning  which  he  thus  speaks  in  the  preface 
to  one  of  his  volimies  of  sermons:  "In  March  last,  1 
received  a  letter  from  the  College  of  New  Jersey,  in- 
forming me  of  an  extraordinary  appearance  of  the 
Divine  power  and  presence  there,  and  requesting  I 
would  come  and  see.  With  this  khid  motion  I  gladly 
complied ;  and  having  been  there  some  time,  liad  all 
the  evidence  of  the  aforesaid  report,  which  could  be 
in  reason  desired,"  He  then  inserts  a  letter  from 
his  brother  "William,  giving  a  particular  account  of 
the  nature  and  progress  of  the  work;  which  was  ad- 


THE     REV.     GILBERT    TEXNEXT.  83 

dressed  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Finley,  and  the  autograph  of 
which  tlie  writer  has  seen.  This  letter  shall  be  giv- 
en entire,  when  we  come  to  give  an  account  of  the 
life  of  the  Rev.  William  Tennent,  jr. 

For  about  three  years  before  his  death,  Mr.  Ten- 
nent became  very  infirm ;  so  that  he  was  unable  to 
go  through  the  duties  which  devolved  upon  him  as 
the  pastor  of  a  large  city  congregation.  In  Decem- 
ber 1702,  the  congregation  got  leave  to  present  a 
call  to  the  Rev.  George  DuIIield,  D.  D.,  then  of  Car- 
lisle, to  be  a  co-pastor  with  Mr.  Temient.  This  call 
Dr.  Duffield  declined  to  accept ;  and  the  congregation 
remained  without  another  pastor,  until  Mr.  Tenuent'a 
death;  which  event  occurred  in  the  year  1764,  in  the 
sixty-second  year  of  his  age. 

Of  the  circumstances  of  his  death.  Dr.  Finley,  in 
ills  funeral  sermon,  says  but  little.  In  the  general, 
he  informs  us,  that,  "as  he  lived  to  the  Lord,  so 
death  was  his  unspeakable  gain.  And  his  being 
conscious  of  it  made  him  ardently  wish  for  the  pleas- 
ing hour,  when  he  should  enter  into  the  joy  of  his 
Lord."  ..."  lie  had  an  habitual  unshaken  assur- 
ance of  his  interest  in  redeeming  love,  for  the  space 
of  more  than  forty  years;  but  eight  days  before  his 
death,  he  got  a  more  clear  and  affecting  sense  of  it 
still.  And  though  he  lamented  that  he  had  done  so 
little  for  God,  and  that  his  life  had  been  compara- 
tively unprofitable;  yet  he  triumphed  in  the  grace 

of  Jesus  Christ,  who  had  pardoned  all  his  sins;  and 
F? 


84  'i"HE   ni:v.   cm.iiku'I'  texnent. 

said  his  assurance  ol'  salvation  was  buill  on  tlir- 
scriptures,  and  was  more  sure  than  the  sun  and 
moon." 

His  congregation  placed  a  monumental  stone  over 
liis  remains,  in   the  middle  aisle  of  the  church  in 
which  he  had  so  long  preached.     The  inscription  on 
this  stone  was  written  by  his  friend  Dr.  Finley,  in 
classic  Latin.     When  this  church  was  remodelled, 
his  remains  and  those  of  Dr.  Finley  also,  were  re- 
moved to  the  public  cemetery  of  the  Second  Presby- 
terian Church,  between  Mulberry  and  Cherry  streets. 
After  Mr.  Tennent's  death,  there  was  an  eulogy 
on  his  character,  published  in   Philadelphia,  by  a 
young  gentleman  of  that  city,  from  which  some  ex- 
tracts will  be  made,  as  serving  to  show  in  what  es- 
timation he  was  held  in  the  place  where  he  spent 
more  than  twenty  years  of  his  life.     We  expect,  in 
discourses  of  this  kind,  some  exaggeration ;  but  as 
this  eulogy  was  addressed  to  the  public,  who  were 
well  acquainted  with  the  person  eulogized,  it  must 
have  a  general  foundation  of  truth  ;  and  the  reader, 
by  making  an  allowance  for  the  strong  expressions 
of  the  partial  writer,  may  form  a  pretty  correct  opin- 
ion of  the  true  character  of  the  person  celebrated. 

After  an  introduction,  this  writer  goes  on  to  say  : 
"  He  whose  memory  these  pages  are  intended  to  cel- 
ebrate, was  distinguished  in  a  very  remarkable  man- 
ner, by  his  eminent  endowments  of  mind  ;  a  love  of 
learning  that  nothing  could  abate  ;  an  intense  appli- 


THE    REV.    GILBERT    TENNENT.  Sf) 

cation,  that  no  recreations  could  divert.  And  his 
great  proficiency  in  the  several  branches  of  hteratiire, 
while  the  powers  of  his  soul  were  but  just  opening, 
raised  the  expectations  of  all  that  knew  him.  And 
what  recommended  these  amiable  accomplishments 
was,  that  they  were  early  adorned  with  the  charms 
of  Divine  grace.  It  was  his  study  to  remember  his 
Creator  in  the  days  of  his  youth.  And  as  he  often 
inculcated  the  necessity  and  manifold  advantages  of 
early  piety,  so  he  might  with  propriety  have  added 
his  own  experience  of  them,  as  an  inducement  to  the 
votaries  of  gayety  and  pleasure  to  embrace  the  pleas- 
ures that  flow  from  true  religion.  He  had  no  soon- 
er experienced  what  it  was  to  pass  from  death  unto 
Ufe,  and  from  a  state  of  nature  to  a  state  of  grace, 
than  he  formed  a  resolution  of  spending  his  time,  his 
talents,  and  his  all,  in  the  service  of  God,  in  his 
sanctuary ;  previously  to  the  accomplishment  of 
which  design,  he  devoted  himself  wholly  to  the 
study  of  the  sacred  scriptures,  and  his  own  heart, 
and  not  merely  to  a  dry  system  of  speculative  no- 
tions. He  was  too  sensible  of  the  importance  of 
that  arduous  office,  to  rush  into  it  without  suitable 
preparation.  Pie  knew  too  well  the  worth  of  pre- 
cious immortal  souls  to  recommend  any  other  foun- 
dation for  the  hopes  of  their  future  happiness,  than 
what  he  was  well  assured  would  stand  the  test  of 
beating  rains  and  descending  showers The 

manner  in  which  he  usually  preached,  and  the  indif- 
F3" 


88  rnn   iiEv.   uim!i:rt  tennent. 

fercncc  with  \vlii<'li  In."  treated  all  secular  advantages, 
abundantly  evinced,  that  ncitlicr  a  love  of  popular 
applause,  nor  a  desire  of  promoting  his  own  afllu- 
encc  and  ease,  could  have  been  any  inducement  to 
him  to  assume  the  holy  function.  Rut,  on  the  con- 
trary, an  ardent  love  to  God,  and  a  desire  to  advance 
his  glory  in  the  world,  by  proclaiming  pardon  and 
reconciliation  through  the  atoning  blood  of  his  cru- 
cified Son,  were  his  only  motives  for  the  choice  of 
that  noble,  disinterested  profession.  As  he  entered 
into  the  ministry  in  the  prime  of  life,  when  his 
bodily  constitution  was  in  its  full  vigour,  he  devoted 
his  juvenile  strength  and  ardour  of  mind  to  the  ser- 
vice of  the  church,  at  a  time  when  their  exertion  was 
of  the  greatest  importance.  Few  that  knew  JVIr. 
Tennent  in  that  season  of  life,  can  speak  of  him 
without  some  pleasing  emotions.  The  good  old 
puritan  spirit  that  had  for  a  series  of  years  been 
asleep,  seemed  to  revive  and  blaze  forth  in  him  with 
a  genuine  lustre.  He  was,  mdeed,  like  the  harbin- 
ger of  his  IMaster,  '  a  burning  and  a  shining  light,' 
in  the  church.  His  undissembled  piety,  his  fervent 
zeal,  his  pungency  of  address,  and  his  indefatigable 
assiduity  in  the  performance  of  every  ministerial 
duty,  were  remarkably  eminent.  He  might  truly  be 
styled  a  '  Boanerges.'  As  he  knew  the  composition 
and  make  of  the  human  heart;  so  he  knew  how  to 
speak  to  it ;  and  all  his  discourses  were  aimed  at  the 
fountain   of  impurity   and   sin.     He   knew   that  a 


THE  REV.  GILBERT  TENXENT.  87 

reformation  that  did  not  take  its  rise  in  the  heart, 
could  not  be  of  long  continuance,  or  pleasing  in  the 
sight  of  God  ;  and,  therefore,  he  always  strove  to 
convince  his  hearers,  that  a  thorough  renovation  of 
it  was  necessary  to  salvation." 

"  As  his  presence  was  venerable,  and  his  voice 
commanding,  so  his  very  appearance  in  the  pulpit, 
filled  the  minds  of  his  hearers  with  a  kind  of  religious 
awe.  .  .  .  The  thunderings  and  mighty  vociferations 
of  Mount  Sinai  seemed  to  roar  from  the  sacred  desk, 
when  he  denounced  the  wrath  of  God  against  him  that 
transgressed  but  once  God's  law,  which  helaiew  to  be 
spiritual,  and  that  nothing  but  a  perfect  obedience — 
which  man  in  his  fallen  state  is  unable  to  perform — 
would  satisfy  its  demands.  Hence,  he  made  it  his 
constant  practice  to  sound  the  alarm  of  God's  curse 
abiding  on  the  whole  Inmian  race  ;  and  that  to  doom 
man  to  everlasting  misery  would  be  highly  consis- 
tent with  the  mercy  and  justice  of  Jehovah.  But 
while  he  enforced  the  truth  of  inspiration,  '  that  in 
Adam  all  die,'  he  was  no  less  warm  in  proclaiming, 
I  that  in  Christ  all  shall  be  made  alive.'  And  as  he 
knew  how  to  wound,  so  he  knew  how  to  pour  the 
oil  of  consolation  on  the  bleeding  conscience.  The 
blood  of  Jesus,  that  sacred  healing  balm,  was  his 
grand  cathoUcon  for  sin-sick  souls.  This  only  was 
what  he  recommended  as  sufficient  to  procure  ease 
to  the  trembling  sinner ;  with  the  love  of  God  to 
man,  in  pouring  so  much  Deity  on  guilty  dust — in 


S8  THE    IlEV.    (;iI.HKnT    TENNKNT. 

sending  his  darling  Son  itito  the  world,  to  redeem  a 
race  of  rebel  sinners,  by  bearing  on  the  accursed 
tree,  the  heavy  punishment  due  to  man's  enormous 
crimes,  in  order  to  translate  him  to  the  regions  of 
eternal  joy. 

"The  beginning  of  his  ministry  was  employed  in 
long  and  tedious  itinerations.  And  wherever  he 
had  a  prospect  of  doing  good,  however  remote  the 
place  might  be  from  his  friends,  and  however  re- 
pugnant to  his  own  ease,  he  needed  no  other  in- 
ducement, but  cheerfully  undertook  the  pleasing 
task. 

"Fatigues  and  toils  from  which  even  worldly  men, 
in  the  prosecution  of  an  earthly  good  shrink  back, 
he  joyfully  engaged  in  ;  and  with  a  degree  of  perse- 
verance peculiar  to  himself,  bravely  overcame  those 
dijSiculties,  wliich  to  some  minds  appeared  insur- 
mountable. ...  It  pleased  God,  in  a  very  gracious 
manner,  to  crown  his  labours  with  success.  The 
energy  of  the  divine  Spirit  accompanied  his  minis- 
trations. Wherever  he  went  the  kingdom  of  Satan 
trembled ;  the  desolate  and  solitary  places  bloomed 
like  a  rose  before  him;  and  he  became  the  happy  in- 
strument of  turning  many  from  the  error  of  their 
ways  to  the  living  God. 

«  His  knowledge  in  divinity,  in  which  he  made 
great  proficiency,  was  entirely  derived  from  the 
Bible ;  and  whatever  truth  it  enforced  as  duty,  he 
inculcated ;  his  arguments  for  the  one,  and  motives 


TIIK   REV.  GILKKUT  TENKENT.  89 

lor  the  Other,  were  all  taken  Iroiii  those  inspired 
pages,  which  he  prized  above  all  human  writings, 
and  valued  as  the  charter  by  which  he  possessed  the 
hope,  and  ere  long  expected  the  full  enjoyment  of  a 
blessed  eternity. 

"Sensible  how  much  man  is  dependent  upon  God 
for  every  blessing  he  enjoys,  and  that  the  best  way  to 
keep  the  flame  of  dev^otion  alive  in  his  own  soul,  was 
to  maintain  a  constant  intercourse  with  heaven,  he 
made  prayer  his  chief  and  most  delightful  employ- 
ment. This  was  the  very  breath  of  his  soul.  .  .  . 
His  manner  of  praying  was  such  as  evidenced  it  to  be 
not  the  mere  language  of  the  passions,  but  a  rr  tional, 
solemn,  and  animated  address  to  the  Great  Father 
of  spirits. 

"After  having  laboured  for  many  years,  with  much 
success,  in  New  Brunswick,  where  he  was  settled ; 
by  the  advice  of  his  brethren,  he  accepted  an  urgent 
call  from  the  Second  Presbyterian  church  in  Phila- 
delphia, while  the  society  was  in  its  infant  state ;  and 
continued  to  exercise  his  pastoral  function  there  for 
upwards  of  twenty  years,  with  a  degree  of  watchful- 
ness and  fidelity,  scarcely  to  be  paralleled.  He  con- 
sidered himself  as  the  shepherd  of  his  flock,  and 
made  it  his  practice  to  lead  them  to  the  green  pas- 
tures and  living  fountains  of  salvation,  with  the 
care  of  one  that  knew  he  must  render  an  account  at 
the  last  day.  Nay,  he  considered  himself  the  father 
of  his  people,  and  as  his  beloved  children  he  coun- 


90  riiK  ni:v.  cii.iikrt  tknnkxt. 

sclled,  warned  and  reproved  them,  with  all  the  ten- 
derness and  solicitude  of  ;i  father's  heart.  He  was, 
indeed,  a  faithful  watchman,  that  never  failed  to 
give  warning  of  impending  danger.  The  rich  and 
the  poor,  the  black  and  white  had  equally  free  ac- 
cess to  his  person,  and  ever  found  him  ready  to  hear 
tiieir  complaints  and  solve  their  doubts." 

"  What  he  preached  in  the  pulpit,  his  life  preached 
out  of  it.  His  disposition — naturally  calm — was 
still  more  sweetened  with  that  holy  temper  which 
the  gospel  of  Christ  inspires,  A  genuine  serenity 
and  cheerfulness  dwelt  upon  his  countenance,  which 
he  never  failed  to  diffuse  on  all  around  him.  He 
was  charitable  to  the  poor ;  kind  to  all  men ;  a 
lover  of  all  that  loved  the  Lord  Jesus,  whatever 
mode  of  worship  they  professed  ;  and  much  beloved 
in  all  the  tender  endearments  of  domestic  life,  as  a 
husband,  a  father,  a  master,  and  a  friend. 

"There  is  nothing  in  this  world,  methinks,  more 
grand  or  illustrioas,than  the  old  age  of  a  man  who  has 
devoted  his  whole  time,  and  spent  his  whole  life  inpro- 
moting  the  spiritual  interests  of  his  fellow  creatures. 
.  .  .  The  review  of  his  life  fills  his  soul  with  a  plea- 
sure, which  none  but  such  as  experience  it  can  con- 
ceive. Whilst  he  sees  no  ill-spent  time  to  sting  his  con- 
science with  remorse,  nor  feels  any  attachment  to  the 
transitory  things  of  this  world,  he  beholds  a  calm 
haven  prepared  for  his  repose,  where  the  storms  and 
billows  of  affliction  can  reach  him  no  more.    .    .    . 


THE    KKV.    GILBERT    TENNENT.  91 

In  this  light  sliould  we  contemplate  Mr.  Tennent. 
His  soul,  like  the  setting  sun,  broke  through  the 
clouds  of  infirmity.  There  Avas  a  dignity  and 
grandeur  in  his  old  age.  Wisdom  bloomed  upon 
his  silver  locks;  and  while  the  cold  hand  of  time 
snowed  upon  his  locks,  his  heart  glowed  with  re- 
doubled love  for  the  church.  .  .  .  Nor  more  dread- 
ful to  the  man  of  ease  in  his  possessions  is  the  ap- 
proach of  the  king  of  terrors,  than  he  was  welcome  to 
this  eminent  servant  of  God.  Every  symptom  of  his 
approaching  dissolution,  instead  of  filling  his  soul 
with  alarms,  rather  filled  him  with  comfort,  and 
made  him  impatiently  long  for  the  kind  stroke  that 
should  dismiss  his  soul.'  After  having  borne  a  long 
and  tedious  illness  with  the  most  invincible  fortitude 
and  resignation,  the  friendly  messenger  at  last, 
came  with  the  joyful  summons.  .  .  .  And  with  full 
confidence  in  the  merits  and  atonement  of  his  dear 
Redeemer,  he  gently  fell  asleep. 

The  following  is  the  most  accurate  list  of  Mr. 
Gilbert  Tennent's  works,  which  the  author  has  been 
able  to  collect. 

1.  In  the  year  1735,  Mr.  Tennent  published  his 
"  Solemn  Warning  to  the  secure  World,  From 
the  God  of  Terrible  Majesty ;  or,  the  Presumptuous 
Sinner  Detected,  his  Pleas  Considered,  and  his  Doom 
Displayed."     This  volume  was  printed  in  Boston. 

2.  Sermons  on  Sacramental  Occasions,  hy 
Divers  Authors.     A  small  duodecimo   volume. — 


92  THE    Ri:V.    GILDKUT    TnNNE5T. 

The  sermons  arc  all  by  Mr.  Gilbert  Teiinent,  except 
two  ;  one,  by  his  brother  William,  and  the  other,  by 
the  Rev.  Samuel  Blair.  It  would  seem,  that  at  the 
time  when  this  volume  was  published,  no  books 
were  printed  either  in  New  York  or  Philadelphia; 
for  the  manuscript  was  sent  to  Boston,  and  printed 
there,  in  the  year  1739. 

3.  Two  sermons  of  the  Rev.  John  Tennent,  with 
a  Preface,  containing  a  memoir  of  him,  to  which  is 
added,  "  An  Expostulatory  Address  to  Saints  and 
Sinners,"  by  Gilbert  Tennent.  Printed  in  Boston,  in 
the  year  1735. 

4.  His  next  Publication  was,  probably,  his  famous 
a  Nottingham  Seumox,"  in  which  he  lashed  his 
brethren  of  the  synod  so  severely,  that  it  had  much 
influence  in  leading  to  the  separation  which  soon 
followed. 

5.  "The  Examiner  Examined"  was  written  in 
the  year  1740,  and  is  an  answer  to  a  pamphlet  writ- 
ten against  him,  by  an  anonymous  author,  after  his 
visit  to  New  England. 

6.  "The  Pacificator,"  a  large  pamphlet,  the 
object  of  which  was  to  bring  about  a  re-union  of  the 
dissentient  parties,  in  the  Presbyterian  church. 

7.  In  the  year  1744,  Mr.  G.  Tennent  published,  in 
Philadelphia,  a  small  quarto  volume  of  sermons, 
twenty-three  in  number.  These  Discourses  appear 
to  have  been  the  commencement  of  a  body  of  Divin- 
ity.    The  subjects  treated  are,  "  The   Chief  End  of 


THE    TIEV.    GILBERT    TENXENT.  WJ 

Man — The  Divine  Authority  of  the  Sacred  Scrip- 
tures— The  Being  and  Attributes  of  God,  and  the 
Trinity."     Preached  in  Philadelphia,  in  1743. 

8.  In  the  year  1749,  Mr.  G.  Tennent,  published 
two  sermons,  preached  at  Burlington,  N.  J.,  On  a 
day  of  Public  Fasting.  They  arc  dedicated  to  Gov- 
ernor Belcher.  The  Texts  are  Matt.  vi.  16,  17,  18, 
and  Jonah  iii.  8. 

9.  In  1758,  Mr.  Gilbert  Tennent  published  a 
volume  of  sermons,  entitled,  "  Sermons  on  Impor- 
tant Subjects,  Adapted  to  the  Perilous  State 
OP  the  British  Nation,"  Lately  Preached  in  Phil- 
adelphia, by  Gilbert  Tennent,  A.  M. 

We  do  not  know  where  Mr.  Tennent  obtatned  his 
degree  of  Master  of  Arts.  It  would  be  natural  to 
suppose  that  it  was  conferred  by  the  Trustees  of 
the  College  of  New  Jersey  ;  but  his  name  is  not  on 
the  catalogue  ;  Avliile  we  find  there  the  names  of 
some  of  his  contemporaries,  who  received  honourary 
degrees.  As  he  was  a  Trustee  of  New  Jersey  college, 
it  is  probable  that  this  honour  was  conferred  on  him 
by  Yale  or  Harvard,  or  possibly,  from  one  of  the 
Scotch  universities. 

10.  In  1756,  Mr.  Tennent  published  a  Funeral 
sermon,  occasioned  by  the  death  of  Captain  William 
Grant.     Preached  in  Philadelphia. 

11.  The  last  Publicati  in  of  Mr.  G.  Tennent,  was 
"  A  Sermon  ox  the  Nature  of  Religious  Zeal 
Its    excellency   and    Importance    opened   and 


94  THE    KEV.    Gir.nERT    TENNEXT. 

URGED."    Preached  in  Philadelphia,  Jan.  27,  17G0. 

The  style  of  these  several  publications  is  very  di- 
verse ;  as  they  were  composed  at  different  periods 
of  Mr.  Tcnnent's  life,  on  different  subjects,  and 
in  different  circumstances.  In  all  his  writings  per- 
spicuity and  force  are  manifest  characteristics  of  his 
style;  but  there  is  a  great  want  of  simplicity  and 
ease.  Throughout  the  whole,  tlie  doctrines  incul- 
cated are  rigidly  orthodox,  according  to  the  West- 
minster Confession.  In  his  didactic  discourses,  he 
shows  himself  not  only  to  be  a  profound  thinker, 
but  a  well-read  theologian ;  and  often  quotes  the 
standard  Latin  writers  of  systematic  theology,  as  one 
who  had  been  accustomed  to  read  them.  While  he 
manifests  an  ardent  zeal  in  defence  of  the  '  doctrines 
of  grace,'  he  never  loses  sight  of  the  importance  of 
experimental  religion  and  practical  godliness.  In 
conformity  with  the  custom  of  the  age,  he  too  much 
abounds  in  divisions  and  subdivisions;  and  is  too 
fond  of  technical  words  and  phrases.  His  practical 
discourses,  however,  are  often  both  pungent  and 
searching. 

It  is  somewhat  remarkable,  that  while  so  many 
old  authors  have  been  repubhshed,  in  our  day,  none 
of  the  writings  of  Gilbert  Tennent  have  ever  passed 
to  a  second  edition.  The  author  is  disposed  to  make 
a  selection  from  his  works,  if  he  had  encouragement, 
that  we  might  not  only  have  a  sketch  of  the  lives  of 
the  divines  of  the  Log  College,  but  a  specimen  of 
their  theology. 


CHAPTEE  YI. 

Mr.  Gilbert  Tennent's  letter  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Prince,  containing  many 
interesting  particulars  of  the  state  of  religion  in  New  Brunswick, 
and  vicinity ;  and  also  in  Philadelphia,  and  various  other  places. 

The  preceding  memoir  of  Gilbert  Tennent  was 
drawn  up  before  the  writer  met  with  tlie  following 
letter  from  his  own  pen,  addressed  to  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Prince  of  Boston,  and  published  in  his  "  Christian 
History,"  dated  August  24,  1744,  soon  after  Mr. 
Tennent  had  removed  to  Philadelphia.  This  letter 
sheds  a  satisfactory  light  on  several  parts  of  Mr- 
Tennent's  life,  which  all  other  accounts  leave  in  ob- 
scurity, as  for  example,  the  success  of  his  ministry  in 
New  Brunswick,  while  the  pastor  of  that  church ; 
and  also  in  Staten  Island,  where  he  had  a  congrega- 
tion, to  which  his  labours  appear  to  have  been 
blessed.  It  is  a  sad  evidence  of  the  retrograde 
march  of  Presbyterianism  in  some  parts  of  our  coun- 
try, that  after  the  lapse  of  a  complete  century,  there 
is  not  a  vestige  of  a  Presbyterian  congregation  in 
that  Island  ;  nor  has  there  been,  within  the  mem- 
ory of  any  person  living. 

Such  parts  of  Mr.  Tennent's  letter  as  have  no 
bearing  on  his  own  life,  have  been  omitted,  but  we 
have  retained  much  the  larger  part,  and  in  his  own 
language. 


96  TIIL    HEV.    GII.IIKKT    TLNNENT. 

Ex'iuACTs  from  the  l^etter  of  llie  Rev.  Gilbert  'i'eii- 
ucnt,  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Prince,  of  Boston,  published 
ill  the  Christian  History,  of  the  latter. 

"  I  am  glad  it  pleased  the  sovereign  God  to  make 
my  poor  labours  of  any  service  among  you.  I  de- 
sire ever  to  bless  his  name  for  that  undeserved  mercy. 
I  am  thankful  for  the  Christian  History,  and  well 
pleased  with  the  design  and  management  of  the 
work.  I  hope  it  will  be  a  means  in  God's  hand  of 
conveying  with  honour  to  posterity,  a  memorial 
of  the  late  blessed  revival  of  religion,  which  lias 
been  so  virulently  opposed  by  many."  Here  he  in- 
troduces a  long  extract  from  a  public  attestation  to 
the  reality  of  the  work  of  grace,  in  the  late  revival, 
which  was  prefixed  to  ]\[r.  Dickinson's  "  Display 
OF  Special  Grace."  This  public  testimony  was 
subscribed  by  Gilbert  Tcnnent,  William  Tennent, 
Samuel  Blair,  Richard  Treat,  Samuel  Finley,  and 
John  Blair.  Some  parts  of  this  paper,  will  not  be 
out  of  place  here,  as,  no  doubt,  it  was  drawn  up  by 
Gilbert  Tennent. 

''  If  any  should  inquire,  what  we  mean  by  the  work 
of  God,  we  think  the  judicious  author  of  the  follow- 
ing dialogue  (Mr.  Dickinson)  has  given  a  plain  and! 
pertinent  answer,  to  which  we  give  our  approbation. 
*A  work  of  conviction  and  conversion  spread  iiotj 
long  since  in  many  places  of  these  provinces,  witl 
such  power  and  progress,  as  even  silenced  for  a  tira« 
the  most   malignant   opposcrs.     They  were   eifhei 


THE    REV.    GILBERT    TENNENT.  97 

afraid  or  ashamed  openly  to  contradict  such  astonish- 
ing displays  of  the  divine  Alinightiness,  in  alarming 
multitudes  of  secure  sinners  out  of  their  fatal  stupor, 
and  exciting  in  them  the  utmost  solicitude  about  the 
everlasting  cencerns  of  their  souls  ;  many  of  whom 
gave  us  a  rational  and  scriptural  account  of  their 
distress,  and  afterwards  of  their  deliverance  from  it, 
agreeable  to  the  method  of  the  gospel  of  Christ. 
Their  comforts  as  avcU  as  tlieir  sorrows  appeared, 
by  all  the  evidence  we  can  have  of  such  things,  to 

be  agreeable  to  scripture  and  reason 

"It  is  shocking  to  think  that  any  should  dare  to 
oppose  a  work  attended  with  such  commanding  evi- 
dence as  has  been  among  us.  We  would  beseech 
all  such  solemnly  to  answer  the  following  para- 
graph of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Robe,  minister  of  the  gospel 
in  Kilsyth,  Scotland,  in  his  preface  to  his  "  Narra- 
tive," which  is  as  follows  :  '  I  seriously  beg  of  any 
who  are  prejudiced  against  this  dispensation  of  God's 
extraordinary  grace,  and  look  upon  it  as  a  delusion, 
that  they  will  show  themselves  so  charitable,  as  to 
direct  me  and  other  ministers,  what  we  shall  answer 
distressed  persons  of  all  ages,  who  come  to  us  crying 
bitterly  that  they  are  undone,  because  of  unbelief 
and  other  sins — %liat  shall  we  do  to  be  saved?' 
And  as  a  young  girl  about  twelve,  who  had  been  in 
distress  for  some  time  called  upon  me  in  the  house 
where  I  was,  and  asked  me  with  great  sedateness, 
<  What  shall  I  do  to  get  Christ  ?'  shall  wc  tell  them 


98  THE   REV.  OlLnKKT  TENNKNT. 

that  they  are  not  Christless,  and  are  not  unconverted, 
when  we  evidently  sec  many  of  them  to  be  such  ? 
Shall  we  tell  them  that  their  fears  of  the  wrath  of  God 
is  all  but  delusion,  and  that  it  is  no  such  a  dreadful 
thing  that  they  need  to  be  much  afraid  of  it  ?  Shall 
we  tell  persons  lamenting  their  cursing  and  swearing, 
Sabbath-breaking,  and  otlier  immoralities,  that  it  is 
the  devil  that  now  makes  them  see  these  evils  to  be 
offensive  to  God,  and  destructive  to  their  souls? 
Shall  we  tell  them,  who,  under  the  greatest  uneasi- 
ness, inquire  of  us  what  they  shall  do  to  get  an 
interest  and  faith  in  Jesus  Christ,  that  Satan  is  de- 
luding them,  when  they  have,  or  show  any  concern 
this  way  ?  In  fine,  shall  we  pray,  and  recommend 
it  to  them  to  pray  to  God,  to  deliver  them  from  such 
delusions  ?  It  would  be  worse  than  devilish  to  treat 
the  Lord's  sighing  and  groaning  prisoners  at  this 
rate  ;  and  yet  such  treatment  is  a  natural  conse- 
quence of  reckoning  this  the  work  of  the  devil,  and 
a  delusion.' 

"  I  may  add,  that  both  our  presbyteries  of  New 
Brunswick  and  Newcastle,  have,  in  their  declara- 
tion of  May  26,  1743,  printed  at  Philadelphia, 
manifested  their  cordial  concurrence  with  the  pro- 
TESTATiox  of  thc  prcsbytery  of  sWy  York,  in  which 
are  these  words,  viz. :  '  We  protest  against  all  those 
passages  which  have  been  published  in  these  parts 
which  seem  to  reflect  on  t?ie  work  of  divine  power 
and  grace,  which  has  been  carrying  on  in  so  wonder 


THE    llEV.    GILBERT    TENiVENT.  99 

ful  a  manner  in  many  of  our  congregations ;  and 
declare  to  all  the  world,  that  we  look  upon  it  to  be 
the  indispensable  duty  of  all  our  ministers,  to  en- 
courage that  glorious  work,  with  their  most  faithful 
and  diligent  endeavours.' " 

This  public  protestation  was  signed  by  Jona- 
than Dickinson,  Ebenezer  Pemberton,  Daniel  El- 
more, Silas  Leonard;  John  Pierson,  Simon  Horton, 
and  Azariah  Horton,  ministers ;  and  by  Nathaniel 
Hazard,  Timothy  Whitehead,  and  David  Whitehead, 
elders.  Now,  the  concurrence  of  the  presbyteries  of 
New  Brunswick,  and  Newcastle,  with  the  aforesaid 
Protest,  is  expressed  in  the  following  words,  in  the 
5th  page  of  their  Declaration  :  "  With  this  Protesta- 
tion of  our  reverend  and  other  brethren,  we  heartily 
agree."  And  in  the  13th  page,  they  declare,  "that 
they  could  not  come  into  a  state  of  settled  constant 
communion  with  such  as  had  protested  against  them, 
until  they  received  competent  satisfaction ;  especially 
concerning  their  opposition  to,  and  reflections  upon 
the  work  of  God's  grace,  and  success  of  the  gospel  in 
the  land. 

"  I  trust  I  may  say  to  the  glory  of  God's  grace, 
that  it  pleased  the  most  high  God  to  let  me  see  con- 
siderable success,  in  the  places  where  I  laboured  sta- 
tedly, many  years  before  I  came  hither. 

"  The  labours  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Frelinghuysen,  a 

Dutch  Calvinist  minister,  were  much  blessed  to  the 

people  of  New  Brunswick  and  places  adjacent  ;  cs- 

G 


100  THE    IlEV.    GILBERT    TKNNENT. 

pecially>  about  the  time  of  his  coming  among  tliem, 
which  was  about  twenty-four  years  ago. 

"  Wiien  I  came  there,  wliich  was  about  seven 
years  after,  I  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  much  of  the 
fruits  of  his  ministry  :  divers  of  his  hearers  with 
whom  I  had  the  opportunity  of  conversing,  appeared 
to  be  converted  persons,  by  their  soundness  in  prin- 
ciple, Christian  experience,  and  pious  practice  ;  and 
these  persons  declared,  that  the  ministrations  of  the 
aforesaid  gentleman  were  the  means  thereof.  This, 
together  with  a  kind  letter  which  he  sent  me,  re- 
specting the  dividing  the  word  aright,  and  giving  to 
every  man  his  portion  in  due  season,  through  the 
divine  blessing,  excited  me  to  greater  earnestness  in 
ministerial  labours.  I  began  to  be  very  much  dis- 
tressed about  my  want  of  success ;  for  I  know  not 
for  half  a  year  or  more  after  I  came  to  New  Brmis- 
wick,  that  any  one  was  converted  by  my  labours  ; 
although  several  persons  were  at  times  affected  tran- 
siently, "  It  pleased  God,  about  that  time,  to  afflict 
me  with  sickness,  by  which  I  had  affecting  views  of 
eternity.  I  was  then  exceedingly  grieved  I  had 
done  so  little  for  God,  and  was  very  desirous  to  live 
one  half  year  more,  if  it  was  his  will,  that  I  might 
stand  upon  the  stage  of  the  world,  as  it  were,  and 
plead  more  faithfully  for  his  cause,  and  take  more 
earnest  pains  for  the  salvation  of  souls.  The  secure 
state  of  the  world  appeared  to  me  in  a  veiy  affect- 
ing light ;  and  one  thing  among  others,  pressed  me 


THE    REV.    GILBERT    TENNENT.  101 

sore,  that  I  had  spent  so  much  time  in  conversing 
about  trifles,  which  might  have  been  spent  in 
examining  people's  states,  and  persuading  them  to 
turn  unto  God.  I  therefore  prayed  to  God  that  he 
would  be  pleased  to  give  me  one  half  year  more, 
and  I  was  determined  to  promote  his  kingdom  with 
all  my  might,  and  at  all  adventures.  This  petition 
God  was  pleased  to  grant  manifold,  and  to  enable 
me  to  keep  my  resolution  in  some  measure. 

"After  I  was  raised  up  to  health,  I  examined  many 
about  the  grounds  of  their  hope  of  salvation,  which 
I  found  in  most  to  be  nothing  but  as  the  sand.  With 
such  I  was  enabled  to  deal  faithfully  and  earnestly, 
in  warning  them  of  their  danger,  and  urging  them 
to  seek  converting  grace.  By  this  method  many 
were  awakened  out  of  their  security,  and  of  these, 
divers  were  to  all  appearance  effectually  converted  ; 
but  some  that  I  spoke  plainh'^  to  were  prejudiced. 
And  here  I  would  have  it  observed,  that  as  soon 
as  an  effectual  door  was  opened,  I  found  many 
adversaries,  and  my  character  was  covered  with  un- 
just reproaches,  which  through  divine  goodness  did 
not  discourage  me  in  my  work.  I  did  then  preach 
much  on  original  sin,  repentance,  the  nature  and 
necessity  of  conversion,  in  a  close,  examinatory,  and 
distinguishing  way  :  labouring,  in  the  mean  time",  to 
sound  the  trumpet  of  God's  judgments,  and  alarm 
the  secure  by  the  terrors  of  the  Lord,  as  well  as  to 

affect  them  with  other  topics  of  persuasion  :  which 
G2 


103  THE   RKV.   C.U.V.Ein  TENNENT. 

method  was  sealed  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  in  the 
conviction  and  conversion  of  a  considerable  number 
of  persons,  at  various  times,  and  in  diflerent  places, 
in  that  part  of  the  country',  as  appeared  by  their  ac- 
quaintance with  experimental  religion,  and  good 
conversation. 

"I  may  further  observe,  that  frequently  at  sacra- 
mental seasons,  in  New  ]5runswick,  there  have  been 
signal  displays  of  the  divine  power  and  presence- 
Divers  have  been  convinced  of  sin,  by  the  sermons 
there  preached,  some  converted,  and  many  much 
affected  with  the  love  of  God  in  Jesus  Christ.  0 
the  sweet  meltings  that  I  have  seen  on  such  occa- 
sions, among  many  !  New  Brunswick  did  then  look 
like  a  field  the  Lord  had  blessed.  It  was  like  a  lit- 
tle Jerusalem,  to  which  the  scattered  tribes  with 
eager  haste  repaired  at  sacramental  solemnities  ;  and 
there  they  fed  on  the  fatness  of  God's  house,  and 
drank  of  the  rivers  of  his  pleasures.  But  alas  !  the 
scene  is  now  altered  ! 

"  While  I  lived  in  the  place  aforesaid,  I  do  not  re- 
member, that  there  was  any  great  ingathering  of 
souls  at  any  one  time ;  but,  through  mercy,  there 
were  frequently  gleanings  of  a  few  here  and  there, 
which  in  the  whole  were  a  considerable  number. 
But  having  never  taken  a  written  account  of  them  I 
cannot  offer  any  precise  conjecture  at  their  number, 
and  shall  therefore,  leave  it  to  be  determined  at  the 
judgment-day.     But    at   Staten   Island,  one   of  the 


THE    REV.    GILBERT    TENNENT.  103 

places  where  I  statedly  laboured,  there  was,  about 
fifteen  or  sixteen  years  agone,a  more  general  concern 
about  the  affairs  of  salvation,  which  hopefully  issued 
in  the  conversion  of  a  pretty  many.  Once  in  the 
time  of  a  sermon  from  Amos  vi.  7,  before  which  the 
people  were  generally  secure,  the  Spirit  of  God  was 
suddenly  poured  out  on  the  assembly  ;  the  people 
were  generally  affected  about  the  state  of  their  souls ; 
and  some  to  that  degree,  that  they  fell  upon  their 
knees  in  the  time  of  the  sermon,  in  order  to  pray  to 
God  for  pardoning  mercy.  Many  went  weeping 
home  from  the  sermon ;  and  then  the  general  inqui- 
ry was,  'what  must  I  do  to  be  saved  ?'  I  may  fur- 
ther observe,  that  some  few  of  those  that  I  hope 
were  converted  in  the  places  aforesaid,  were  com- 
pelled to  cry  out  in  the  public  assembly,  both  under 
the  impressions  of  terror  and  love.  During  the  late 
revival  of  religion,  New  Brunswick  felt  some  drops 
of  the  spreading  rain,  but  no  general  shower. 

"  As  to  Philadelphia,  where  by  the  Providence  of 
God,  I  now  labour  statedly,  many  have  been  hope- 
fully converted  here  during  the  display  of  God's 
grace  in  this  land.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Whitefield  was 
the  instrument  God  was  pleased  to  improve,  princi- 
pally in  the  awakening  and  conversion  of  sinners 
here  ;  yet  the  labours  of  others  have  been  attended 
with  some  success.  This  town,  by  all  that  I  can 
learn  was  in  deep  security,  generally,  before  Mr. 

Whitefield  came  among  them,  but  his  preaching  was 
G3 


104  THK     RKV.    GII.BKRT    TENNENT. 

SO  blessed,  that  a  great  number  were  brought  under 
a  religious  concern  about  the  salvation  of  their  souls; 
multitudes  were  "  inquiring  the  way  to  Zion  with 
their   faces   thitherward,  weeping  as  they    went." 
Some  years  since,  there  were  so  many  under  soul- 
sickness  in  this  place,  that  my  feet  were  pained  in 
walking  from  place  to  place  to  see  them.     And  there 
was  then  such  an  eagerness  to  hear  religious  dis- 
course, that  when  they  saw  me  going  to  a  house 
they  would  flock  to  it ;  and  under  what  was  spoken, 
they  were  sometimes  generally,  and  to  all  appear- 
ance, deeply  affected.     And  thus  it  was  in  more 
public  assemblies ;  there   were  sometimes,  general 
meltings.      And  though   several   persons  have  lost 
their  religious  impressions,  and  "  returned  with  the 
dog  to  his  vomit;"  and  some  others  have  falbn  into 
erroneous  sentiments,  yet  God  has  preserved  many 
from  those  evils,  who  give  a  rational  and  scriptural 
account  of  their  conversion,  and  crown  the  same  by 
their  practice.     Neither  is  it  strange  that  some  should 
be  carried  away  here,  by  the  fair  speeches  and  cun- 
ning craftiness  of  those  that  lie  in  wait  to  deceive ; 
seeing  that  the  greater  part  in  this  place,  have  never 
had  the  advantage  of  a  strict  religious  education, 
and,  therefore,  were  never  well  fixed  in  the  thorough 
knowledge    of  a   consistent  system  of  principles. 
None  that  I  know  of  in  this  town,  that  were  well 
acquainted  with  the  doctrines  of  religion  in  their 
connexion,  and    established    in   them,    have   been 


TlIK    REV.    GILBERT    TENNENT.  105 

turned  aside  by  the  tempests  and  tricks  of  crrorists. 

«  The  last  Sabbath  in  May  last,  I  gave  the  sacra- 
ment of  the  Lord's  Supper,  the  first  time  that  it  was 
dispensed  to  the  society  to  which  I  belong — con- 
sidered as  a  society.  The  number  of  communicants 
was  above  one  hundred  and  forty.  Those  persons 
I  examined  about  their  gracious  state,  as  well  as 
doctrinal  knowledge  ;  and  upon  trial,  almost  all  of 
them  gave  scriptural  and  satisfactory  account  of  the 
ground  of  their  hope.  Now  the  chief  of  these,  ac- 
cording to  their  own  account,  have  been  brought  to 
Christ  during  the  late  revival  of  religion.  And 
there  are  divers  other  persons,  who  in  a  judgment 
of  charity,  have  got  saving  benefit  during  the  late 
marvellous  manifestation  of  God's  grace,  who  do 
not  join  in  communion  with  us. 

"  Though  there  is  in  many,  a  considerable  decay 
as  to  their  liveliness  and  affeclionateness  in  religion, 
yet  through  divine  goodness,  they  grow  more  hum- 
ble and  merciful ;  and  it  is  evident  by  their  conver- 
sation, that  the  general  bent  of  their  heart  is  for  God. 
Since  I  have  come  here,  my  labours  seem  to  be 
chiefly  serviceable  to  instruct,  and  establish  the  great 
truths  of  religion,  and  to  comfort  pious  people. 
There  have  been  but  a  few  instances  of  conviction 
and  conversion  in  this  town  that  I  know  of. 

"  In  some  places  of  this  province,  some  years  ago, 
particularly  in  Nottingham,  Fag's  Manor,  White- 
clay  Creek,  Ncshaminy,  and  elsewhere,  there  have 


106  THK   REV.  fllLBKRT    TENNENT. 

been  such  general  lamentations  in  the  time  ol  preach- 
ing, that  tlic  speaker's  voice  has  been  almost 
drowned  with  the  cries  of  the  distressed,  even  after 
they  have  been  entreated  again  and  again  to  restrain 
themselves ;  yea,  and  sometimes  when  the  speaker 
discoursed  in  a  gospel  strain,  divers  persons  in  this 
province  have  fallen  down  to  the  ground  in  the  time 
of  sermon,  as  though  they  were  stabbed  with  a 
sword.  And  what  though  some  have  lost  their  im- 
pressions, and  relapsed  into  their  sordid  impieties, 
this  is  no  more  than  what  the  scriptures  inform  us 
did  happen  in  the  apostolic  times ;  yet  it  is  well 
known  that  many  of  them — so  far  as  we  are  capa- 
ble of  judging  by  men's  speech  and  practice — have 
been  brought  to  a  sound  conversion. 

"  I  think  it  needless  here  to  offer  a  reply  to  the 
cavils  of  opposers,  which  are  as  numerous  as  in- 
sidious and  impertinent.  But  though  I  must  say, 
that  mine  eyes  and  ears  have  seen  and  heard  so 
much  of  the  appearance  and  fruits  of  the  late  revival 
of  religion,  that  I  must  reject  religion  altogether, 
and  turn  mfidel,  if  I  should  dispute  and  oppose  the 
same.  May  it  please  the  gracious  God  to  pardon 
those  unhappy  men  who  have  set  themselves  in 
opposition  to  the  work  of  the  most  high  God,  and 
painted  it  in  black  and  odious  colours,  and  let  them 
see  their  sin  and  danger  before  it  be  too  late. 

"  Dear  Sir,  I  did  not  think  when  I  began  to  write, 
to  ofier  any  more  than  our  Pkefatorv  Attesta- 


THE    REV.  GILBERT  TENNENT.  107 

TioN ;  but  being  urged  to  mention  something  of  what 
I  have  seen  and  heard,  and  finding  a  pleasure  in  the 
subject,  I  have  added,  with  the  strictest  regard  to 
truth  and  soberness,  these  few  hasty  hints,  concern- 
ing some  matters  of  fact,  which  I  know  to  be  true  ; 
and  shall  leave  to  your  discretion  to  do  with  them, 
as  you  shall  see  meet. 

"  I  am  Sir,  Yours,  &c., 

''  Gilbert  Tennent. 
"August  24,  1744.' 


CHAPTER  VII- 

THE  NEW  LONDON   SCHOOL. 

Synod  of  Philadelphia  establish  a  School — Located  at  New  London 
— Mr.  Alison  the  first  Teacher— Ncgociation  with  Yale  College — 
Letter  to  President  Clapp— Synod  of  N.  Y.  form  the  enterprise  of 
establishing  a  college — Log  College  the  germ  of  New  Jersey 
College. 

As  we  have  given  a  brief  history  of  the  Log  Col- 
lege, the  first  school  erected  within  the  bounds  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  in  this  country,  it  will  not  be 
considered  an  unsuitable  digression,  to  say  some- 
thing of  another  school,  which  was  established  by 
the  synod  of  Philadelphia,  after  the  rupture,  which 
has  been  described,  took  place.  The  want  of  an 
institution  of  classical  and  scientific  education  was 
deeply  felt ;  but  what  course  to  pursue,  was  a  prob- 
lem not  easy  to  be  solved.  The  Log  College  had 
been  in  successful  operation  about  fifteen  years 
before  the  exclusion  of  the  New  Brunswick  presby- 
tery ;  but  it  appears,  from  the  statement  of  the  last 
chapter,  that  it  had  never  given  general  satisfaction 
to  the  synod.  And  now  this  school  and  all  its  friends 
and  supporters  were  separated  from  the  synod ;  so 
that  the  need  of  a  school,  where  candidates  might 


THE  NEW  LONDON  SCHOOL.  109 

Dbtain,  at  least,  the  ground-work  of  a  liberal  educa- 
tion, was  felt  to  be  urgent.  This  matter,  therefore, 
became  the  subject  of  frequent  deliberation  and 
mutual  consultation  among  the  ministers.  A  public 
meeting  was  at  length  agreed  upon,  and  the  busi- 
ness was  entered  upon  in  good  earnest.  The  pres- 
byteries of  Philadelphia,  Newcastle,  and  Donegal, 
appointed  certain  of  their  members  to  meet  in  the 
Great  Valley,  Nov.  16,  1743,  to  take  into  considera- 
tion the  subject  of  a  plan  for  educating  young  men 
for  the  holy  ministry.  After  conference  and  dcUbe- 
ration,  they  resolved,  that  this  business  could  not  be 
properly  managed  unless  the  synod  would  undertake 
it ;  they,  therefore,  referred  the  further  consideration 
of  the  subject  to  that  reverend  body ;  but  agreed 
that  in  the  mean  time,  a  school  should  be  opened  for 
the  education  of  youth.  When  this  matter,  the  en- 
suing year,  was  brought  before  the  synod,  they 
adopted  the  plan  as  their  own,  and  took  the  school 
under  their  care  ;  and  agreed  upon  the  following 
plan  for  carrying  it  on. 

1.  That  there  be  a  school  kept  open  where  all  per- 
sons who  please,  may  send  their  children,  and  be 
there  instructed  gratis  in  the  languages,  philosophy, 
and  divinity. 

2.  In  order  to  carry  on  this  design,  it  is  agreed, 
that  every  congregation  under  our  care,  be  applied 
to  for  yearly  contributions,  more  or  less,  as  they  can 
afford,  and  as  God  may  incline  them  to  contribute, 


110  THE   NEW   LONDON  SCHOOL. 

until  Providence  open  the  door  lor  our  supporting 
the  school  in  some  other  way. 

3.  That  if  any  thing  can  be  spared  besides  what 
is  required  to  support  a  master  and  tutor,  that  it  be 
employed  by  the  trustees,  in  buying  books  and 
other  necessaries  for  said  school,  and  for  the  benefit 
of  it,  as  the  trustees  shall  sec  proper. 

"And  Mr.  Alison  is  chosen  master  of  said  school, 
and  has  the  privilege  of  choosing  an  usher,  under 
him,  to  assist  him ;  and  the  said  Mr.  Alison  is  ex- 
empted from  all  public  husincss,  save  only  attending 
church  judicatories,  and  what  concerns  his  particular 
pastoral  charge.  And  the  synod  agree  to  allow  Mr. 
Alison  twenty  pounds  per  annum,  and  the  usher 
fifteen  pounds."  They  then  proceeded  to  appoint 
from  their  own  body,  trustees  for  the  management 
of  the  affairs  of  the  school.  To  these  trustees  it 
belonged,  to  visit  the  school,  and  direct  the  whole 
course  of  instruction,  and  to  report  to  the  synod  the 
condition  of  the  school.  (See  Records  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church,  p.  174.) 

From  what  is  here  stated  it  appears,  that  Mr.  Ali- 
son was  the  pastor  of  a  chiurch,  and  consequently 
the  school  was  situated  in  his  own  vicinity.  Where 
he  received  his  education  is  not  known  to  the  writer, 
but  it  seems  probable  that  he  came  over  a  proba- 
tioner ;  for  we  have  an  account  of  his  ordination  in 
the  records  referred  to  above,  but  no  account  of  his 
license.     Doubtless  he  stood  very  high  as  a  scholar 


THE  NEW  LONDON  SCHOOL.         Ill 

in  the  opinion  of  the  synod ;  and  from  the  tradi- 
tion which  has  corns  down  respecting  him,  he  was 
a  very  acconipUshed  man.  Tlie  estimation  in  which 
he  was  hold  as  a  scholar  may  be  also  inferred  from 
the  fact,  that  he  was  invited  to  take  charge  of  an 
academy,  instituted  in  Philadelphia,  over  which  he 
presided  for  many  years. 

The  synod  of  Philadelphia  had  now  a  school  un- 
der their  own  care,  and  an  able  teacher  ;  but  as  they 
had  manifested  so  great  a  reluctance  to  receive  the 
pupils  of  Mr.  Tennent- s  school,  without  a  better  ed- 
ucation than  could  be  afforded  by  a  grammar-school, 
they  could  not  for  consistency's  sake,  be  satisfied 
with  the  course  of  instruction  in  their  own  school, 
where  there  were  no  more  professors  than  in  the 
Log  College.  They,  therefore,  thought  of  a  plan  of 
sending  their  young  men,  for  a  short  period,  to  Yale 
College,  to  receive  a  diploma,  if  they  could  make  an 
arrangement  with  the  faculty  and  trustees  of  the  col- 
lege, that  would  suit  them.  Messrs.  Andrews  and 
('ross  were  appointed  to  write  a  letter  to  the  presi- 
dent and  corporation  of  the  aforesaid  college.  This 
letter  is  not  on  record  ;  neither  is  President  Clapp's 
answer.  But  on  receiving  his  letter,  they  appointed 
a  large  committee  to  prepare  a  letter  in  answer, 
which  is  preserved  in  the  Records  of  the  Church 
(pp.  185,  186,  187.)  This  letter  has  been  several 
times  referred  to,  and  is  an  important  document  to 
cast  light  on  the  affairs  of  the  church,  at  that  time, 


112  THE  NKW  LONDON  SCHOOL. 

and  before  the  schism.  Several  things  stated  as  facts, 
in  this  narrative,  depend  for  their  authority,  on  this 
letter.  It  will  be  proper,  therefore,  to  lay  a  consid- 
erable part  of  it  before  the  reader.  It  serves  to 
show  what  views  the  synod  entertained  of  the  Log 
College  ;  and  what  steps  they  had  taken  to  establish 
a  school  under  the  superintendence  of  the  synod. 
As  we  have  neither  the  letter  written  by  the  synod 
to  President  Clapp,  nor  his  answer,  the  precise  na- 
ture of  the  application  made,  cannot  now  be  ascer- 
tained, but  from  the  reply  to  President  Clapp's  letter, 
which  is  on  record,  we  may  learn,  generally,  Avhat 
the  request  or  proposal  was,  which  they  made.  In 
this  letter,  dated  May  30,  1746,  they  express  their 
thanks  to  the  president  and  fellows  of  Yale  College, 
for  considering  their  request  and  expressing  a  readi- 
ness to  promote  the  interests  of  learning  and  religion 
in  the  Presbyterian  church.  It  appears,  however, 
that  President  Clapp  wished  for  more  particular  m- 
formation  respecting  the  synodical  school,  and  also 
the  present  state  of  the  synod.  In  answer  to  his 
inquiries,  they  say :  "  Some  years  ago  our  synod 
found  the  interest  of  Christ's  kingdom  likely  to  suffer 
in  these  parts,  for  want  of  a  college  for  the  education 
of  young  men.  And  our  supplies  from  Europe,  or 
New  England,  were  few  in  proportion  to  the  numer- 
ous vacancies  in  our  growing  settlements.  Mr.  Wil- 
liam Tennent  set  up  a  school  among  us,  where  some 
were  educated,  and  afterwards  admitted  to  the  min- 


THE  NEW  LONDON  SCHOOL.         113 

istry,  without  sufficient  qualijications,  as  luas 
judged  by  many  of  the  synod.  And  what  made 
the  matter  look  worse,  those  that  were  educated  in 
this  private  way,  denied  the  usefulness  of  some 
parts  of  learning  that  we  thought  very  necessary. 
It  was  therefore  agreed  to  try  to  institute  a  college, 
and  apply  to  our  friends  in  Britain,  Ireland,  and  New 
England,  to  assist  us.  We  wrote  to  the  Association 
of  Boston  on  this  head,  and  had  a  very  favourable 
answer.  But  when  we  were  thus  projecting  our 
plan,  and  appointing  commissioners  to  Britahi,  &.C., 
to  promote  the  thing,  the  war  with  Spain  was 
proclaimed,  which  put  a  stop  to  our  proceedings  then. 
The  synod  then  came  to  a  public  agreement  to  take 
all  private  schools  where  young  men  were  educated 
for  the  ministry,  so  far  under  their  care,  as  to  appoint 
a  committee  of  our  synod  to  examine  all  such  as  had 
not  obtained  degrees  in  the  European  or  New  Eng- 
land colleges,  and  give  them  certificates,  if  they  were 
found  qualified,  which  was  to  serve  our  presbyteries, 
instead  of  a  college  diploma,  till  better  provision 
could  be  made.  Mr.  Gilbert  Tennent  cried  out  that 
this  was  to  prevent  his  father's  school  from  training 
gracious  men  for  the  ministry  ;  and  he,  and  some  of 
his  adherents,  protested  against  it,  and  counteracted 
tliis  our  public  agreement;  admitting  men  to  the 
ministry,  which  were  judged  luifit  for  that  office ; 
which  course  they  persisted  in,  though  admonished 
and  reproved  by  us,  for  such   unwarrantable  pro- 


Ill  THE    NKW    LONDON    SCHOOL, 

ceedings.  Whilo  these  debates  subsisted,  Mr.  White- 
field  came  into  the  country,  wlioni  they  drew  into 
their  party,  to  cncoura2ro  divisions.  And  thoy  and 
he,  have  been  the  sad  instruments  of  dividing  our 
churches.  And  by  his  interest,  Mr.  Gilbert  Tennent 
grew  hardy  enough  to  tell  our  synod  he  would  op- 
pose their  design  of  getting  assistance  to  erect  a  col- 
lege, wherever  Ave  should  make  application,  and 
would  maintain  young  men  at  his  father's  school,  in 
opposition  to  us.  This,  with  his  and  his  adherents 
divisive  practices,  obliged  the  synod  to  exclude  him 
and  others  of  his  stamp,  from  their  communion.  In 
this  situation  our  affairs  grew  worse  ;  for  our  vacan- 
cies were  numerous,  and  we  found  it  hard,  in  such 
troubles,  to  engage  gentlemen  from  New  England  or 
Europe  to  come  among  us,  such  as  our  best  friends 
in  those  places  could  recommend  as  steadfast  in  the 
faith,  and  men  of  parts  and  education.  Upon  this, 
the  synod  erected  a  school  in  1744.  It  was  agreed, 
that  the  said  school  should  be  opened  under  the  in- 
spection of  the  synod,  where  the  languages,  philoso- 
phy, and  divinity,  should  be  taught,  gratis,  to  all  that 
should  comply  with  the  regulations  of  the  school,  be- 
ing persons  of  good  character  and  behaviour.  They 
appointed  a  master  and  a  tutor  for  this  business,  who 
were  to  be  paid  by  such  contributions  as  the  synod 
could  obtain  for  this  purpose  ;  and  agreed  from  year 
to  year,  to  appoint  trustees,  to  meet,  twice  a  year,  to 
inspect  the  master's  diligence  and  method  of  teach- 


THE  XEW  LONDON  SCHOOL.         115 

ing  ;  and  direct  what  authors  arc  chiefly  to  be  read 
in  the  several  branches  of  learning  ;  to  examine  the 
scholars  as  to  their  proficiency  and  good  conduct ; 
and  apply  the  money  procured  to  such  uses  as  they 
judge  proper ;  and  who  order  all  affairs  relating  to 
the  school.  And  the  trustees  are  yearly  to  be  ac- 
countable to  the  synod,  and  to  make  report  of  their 
proceedings,  and  state  of  the  school.  And  it  is 
agreed,  that  after  the  said  scholars  pass  the  course  of 
study  prescribed  them,  they  shall  be  publicly  exam- 
ined by  the  said  trustees,  and  such  ministers  as  the 
synod  shall  think  fit  to  appoint." 

We  are  not  informed  that  this  negotiation  Avith 
the  president  of  Yale  College,  resulted  in  anythmg 
practical.  It  does  not  appear  that  the  synod  ever 
sent  any  of  their  young  men  to  Yale  College,  to 
finish  their  education.  Indeed,  the  necessity  for  such 
a  measure,  soon  passed  away,  as  the  College  of 
New  Jersey,  in  a  short  time  after  this,  was  instituted, 
and  rapidly  rose  into  credit.  And  Dr.  Alison,  the 
principal  of  their  school  at  New  London,  in  Dela- 
ware, was  invited  to  Philadelphia,  to  take  charge  of 
an  academy  which  a  number  of  gentlemen  had  crect- 
ed"in  that  city.  And  it  was  not  long  before  this  acad- 
emy was  constituted  a  college,  in  which  Dr.  Ali- 
son was  appointed  the  vice-provost,  and  professor  of 
Moral  Philosophy.  To  this  institution  the  young 
men  belonging  to  the  synod  of  Philadelphia,  di- 
rected their  attention,  and    here   tliey   commonly 


IK)  THE    NEW    I,ONJ)ON    SCHOOL. 

finished  their  education.  But  after  the  union  of 
the  two  synods,  in  1758,  candidates  from  all  the 
presbyteries  were  accustomed  to  resort  to  New 
Jersey  college ;  especially,  after  Dr.  Witherspoon 
became  the  president. 

Mr.  Alison's  departure  from  the  synod's  school  at 
New  London,  seems  to  have  been  its  death-blow. 
From  the  Records  of  the  synod  of  Philadelphia,  it 
appears,  that  Dr.  Alison  relinquished  his  station  with- 
out receiving  the  approbation,  either  of  the  presby- 
tery of  Newcastle,  of  which  he  was  a  member,  or 
of  the  synod.  His  course  was  viewed  as  irregular, 
by  the  synod ;  but  they  were  well  satisfied  with  the 
thing  itself;  and  when  they  met,  a  reference  from 
the  presbytery  of  Newcastle  was  laid  before  them, 
relative  to  this  matter,  when  the  following  minute 
was  adopted,  and  placed  on  record,  viz. :  "  The 
synod  having  deliberately  considered  the  afiair  of 
Mr.  Alison's  removal  to  Philadelphia,  referred  to 
them  by  the  presbytery  of  Newcastle,  judge,  that 
the  method  he  used  is  contrary  to  the  Presbyterian 
plan.  Yet,  considering  the  circumstances  which 
urged  him  to  take  the  method  he  used,  were  very 
pressing  ;  and  that  it  was  indeed  almost  impractica- 
ble to  him  to  apply  for  the  consent  of  presbytery  or 
synod,  in  the  orderly  way  ;  and  further,  being  per- 
suaded that  JMr.  Alison's  being  employed  in  such  a 
station  in  the  academy,  has  a  favourable  aspect  in 
several  respects,  and  a  very  probable  tendency  not 


THE  NEW  LOXDOX  SCHOOL.  117 

only  to  promote  the  good  of  the  public,  but  also  of 
the  church,  as  he  may  be  serviceable  to  the  interests 
thereof,  in  teaching  philosophy  and  divinity,  as  far 
as  his  obligations  to  the  academy  will  permit ;  wc 
judge  tliat  his  proceedings  in  said  aflair,  are  in  a 
great  measure  excusable.  Withal,  the  synod  ad- 
vises, that  for  tlie  future,  its  members  be  very  cau- 
tious, and  guard  against  such  proceedings  as  are 
contrary  to  our  known  and  approved  methods,  in 
such  cases." 

As  we  are  not  aware,  that  any  memoir  of  Dr. 
Francis  Alison  has  been  published  ;  and  as  he  was 
one  of  the  most  accomplished  scholars,  who  has 
adorned  the  Presbyterian  Church,  in  these  United 
States,  it  seems  desirable  to  preserve  his  memory 
from  utter  oblivion,  by  giving  a  large  extract  from 
the  funeral  sermon,  preached  on  occasion  of  his 
death,  by  his  friend  and  successor,  the  Rev.  John 
Ewing,  D.  D.  Dr.  Alison  died  Nov.  29,  1777,  in 
Philadelphia,  where  he  had  long  resided. 

"This  discourse  administers  comfort  and  consola- 
tion under  the  loss  of  our  pious  friends  and  relations, 
who  have  died  the  death  of  the  righteous,  and  had 
a  just  foundation  to  entertain  the  hope  of  a  glorious 
immortality.  Whatever  reasons  we  have  to  mourn 
under  the  loss  we  sustain,  by  being  deprived  of  their 
counsel,  their  prayers, or  their  conversation;  yet  we 
have  no  reason  to  be  grieved  on  account  of  the  ex- 

chanee  they  have  made,  of  ,a  world  of  sin  and  sor- 

H 


118  THE   NEW   LONDON   flCIIOt)!,. 

row  for  joys  inconceivable  and  full  of  glor}'.  They 
have  fought  the  good  fight  of  faith  ;  they  have  fin- 
ished their  course ;  they  are  discharged  from  the 
Christian  warfare,  and  are  exalted  to  an  unfading 
crown  of  righteousness  and  glory.  These  consider- 
ations afford  consolation  to  the  church  of  God,  and 
lo  all  its  members,  when  those  who  were  stationed 
by  its  glorious  head,  ns  watchmen  upon  her  walls, 
are  removed  by  death  ;  and  particularly  nnder  the 
heavy  stroke  which  the  interests  of  religion  and 
learning  this  day  feels  in  America,  by  the  mucii 
lamented  death  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Francis  Alison. 

"However  the  partialities  of  friendship  for  the 
deceased  have  carried  funeral  eulogies  to  a  very  ex- 
ceptionable and  unjustifiable  length,  on  many  occa- 
sions; yet  1  am  persuaded,  that  you  will  readily  ac- 
knowledge, that  there  is  but  little  danger  of  an  ex- 
treme of  this  kind  in  paying  this  tribute  to  the  mem- 
ory of  a  man,  whose  private  virtues  commanded  the 
esteem  of  all  that  knew  him,  and  whose  extensive 
public  usefulness  had  erected  a  lasting  monument 
to  his  praise.  To  be  silent  on  this  occasion,  would 
argue  an  unpardonable  insensibility  to  the  interests 
of  religion  and  learning,  and  would  be  an  instance 
of  injustice  to  the  man,  who,  for  more  than  forty 
years,  has  supported  the  ministerial  character  with 
dignity  and  reputation,  and  to  whom  America  is 
greatly  indebted  for  that  diffusion  of  light  and  know- 
ledge, and  thnt  spirit  of  liberty  and  inquiry,  whicli 


ruK   m:\\    i.um»(i\   x  iioul.  119 

tliis  day  places  many  of  her  sons  upon  a  level  with 
(hose  of  the  oldest  nations  of  Europe.  All  who 
knew  him  acknowledge,  that  he  was  frank,  open, 
and  ingenuous  in  his  natural  temper;  warm  and 
zealous  in  his  friendships  ;  catholic  and  enlarged  in 
his  sentiments ;  a  friend  to  civil  and  religious  liber- 
ty; abhorring  the  intolerant  spirit  of  persecution, 
bigotry,  and  superstition,  together  with  all  the  arts 
of  dishonesty  and  deceit.  His  humanity  and  com- 
passion led  him  to  spare  no  piiins  nor  trouble  in  re- 
lieving and  assisting  the  poor  and  distressed,  by  iiis 
advice  and  influence,  or  by  his  own  private  liberali- 
ty ;  and  he  has  left  behind  him  a  lasting  testimony 
of  the  extensive  benevolence  of  his  heart  in  plan- 
ning, erecting,  and  nursing,  with  constant  attention 
and  tenderness,  the  charitable  scheme  of  the  wid- 
ows' FUND,  by  which  many  helpless  orphans  and  des- 
titute widows  have  been  seaconably  relieved  and 
supported;  and  will,  we  trust,  continue  to  be  relieved 
and  supported  so  long  as  the  synod  of  New  York 
and  Philadelphia  shall  exist. 

"  Blessed  with  a  clear  understanding,  and  an  ex- 
tensive liberal  education  ;  thirsting  for  knowledge, 
and  indefatigable  in  study  through  the  whole  of 
Iiis  useful  life,  he  acquired  an  unusual  fund  of 
learning  and  knowledge,  which  rendered  his  con- 
versation remarkably  instructive,  and  abundant- 
ly qualilied  him  for  the  sacred  work  of  the  min- 

isfrv,  and    the  painful  instruction   of  vouth  in    the 

II2 


120  TI{E     M;\V     LONDON     sciloOI.. 

college.  He  was  truly  a  scrilxj  well  inslrncted 
into  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  a  workman  that 
needed  not  to  be  asliamcd,  for  he  rightly  divided 
the  word  of  truth,  and  was  peculiarly  skilful  in  giv- 
ing to  every  one  his  portion  in  due  season.  In  his 
public  exhibitions,  he  was  warm,  animated,  plain, 
practical,  argumentative,  and  pathetic ;  and  he  has 
hft  a  testimony  in  the  consciences  of  thousands,  who 
attended  upon  his  ministry,  that  he  was  willing  to 
spend  and  be  spent  to  promote  their  salvation,  and 
that  he  failed  not  to  declare  to  them  the  whole  coun- 
sel of  God,  while  he  endeavoured  to  save  himself 
and  those  that  heard  him.  And  we  have  reason  to 
hope,  that  the  bountiful  Redeemer,  whom  he  served 
in  his  spirit,  has  greatly  honoured  him  by  making 
him  instrumental  in  the  salvation  of  many,  who 
shall  be  the  crown  of  his  rejoicing  in  the  day  of  the 
Lord.  His  solicitude  for  the  interests  of  the  Re- 
deemer's kingdom,  and  his  desires  to  engage  young 
men  in  the  sacred  work  of  the  ministry,  and  to  pro- 
mote the  public  happiness,  by  the  diffusion  of  reli- 
gious liberty  and  learning  through  the  once  untutored 
wilds  of  America,  induced  him  lo  open  a  public 
school  in  New  London,  about  thirty-six  years  ago, 
at  which  time,  there  was  scarcely  a  shadow  of  learn- 
ing in  the  middle  states :  and  he  generously  instructed 
all  that  came  to  him  without  fee  or  reward  ;  ac- 
counting himself  amply  paid  by  the  propagation  of 
that  spirit  of  inquiry,  that  thirst  for  learning,  and 


THE  NEW  LONDON  SCHOOL.  l2l 

those  generous  and  public-spirited  attempts  to  found 
find  establish  colleges  in  the  states,  which  we  now 
see. 

"  Animated  by  a  laudable  spirit,  and  a  generous 
concern  for  the  public  good,  some  gentlemen  in  this 
city  erected  an  academy  here  about  thirty  years 
ago,  and  invited  him  to  take  the  instruction  and 
oversight  of  it.  They  pursued  the  same  benevolent 
design  until  a  college  was  afterwards  added,  in 
Miiich  he  was  constituted  vice-provost,  and  professor 
of  moral  philosophy'.  In  this  laborious  employment 
he  has  ever  since  acquitted  himself  with  distinguish- 
ed honour,  fidelity,  and  success,  to  the  extensive  dis- 
semination of  that  public  spirit  which  was  so  early 
raised,  and  so  successfully  cultivated,  by  this  faithful 
and  industrious  servaiU  of  the  public.  And  to  the 
spreading  influence  of  those  numerous  gentlemen 
who  have  received  the  fir^jt  rudiments  of  their  edu- 
cation from  him,  we  cannot  but  attribute,  in  a  great 
measure,  those  pleasing  prospects  which  we  now 
entertain,  of  seeing  the  sacred  lamp  of  science  burn- 
ing with  a  brighter  flame,  and  scattering  its  invigor- 
ating rays  over  the  unexplored  deserts  of  this  exten- 
sive continent,  until  the  whole  world  be  involved  in 
the  united  blaze  of  knowledge,  liberty,  and  religion. 
In  short,  he  was  'a  burning  and  a  shining  light,'  and 
one  of  the  brightest  luminaries  that  ever  shone  on 
this  western  world. 

"  He  is  now  discharged  from  the  labours  of  mor- 
H3 


122  THK     NEW     LONDON     SCHOOL. 

tality,  and  is  gone,  we  trust,  to  receive  the  approba- 
tion of  that  compassionate  Redeemer,  whom  he  so 
faithfully  served.  For  he  often  expressed  his  hopes 
in  the  mercy  of  God  unto  eternal  life,  and  told  me 
but  a  few  days  ago,  '  that  he  had  no  doubt  but  that 
according  to  the  tenor  of  the  gospel  covenant,  he 
would  obtain  the  pardon  of  his  sins  through  the 
great  Redeemer  of  mankind,  and  enjoy  an  eternity 
of  rest  and  glory  in  the  presence  of  God.'  It  was 
this  comfortable  prospect  that  animated  him  to  un- 
common fidelity  and  industry  in  all  the  duties  of  life, 
and  enabled  him  to  bear  the  lingering  dissolution  of 
his  body  with  jvitience  and  resignation,  until  he  fell 
asleep  in  Jesus. 

"  Let  us,  then,  who  survive  our  friends,  endeavour 
to  be  followers  of  them  who  by  faith  and  patience 
have  inherited  the  promises.  Let  the  solemnities  of 
this  mournful  day,  in  which  an  afflicted  family,  the 
college  in  this  city,  the  congregation  in  which  he  so 
long  laboured  in  word  and  in  doctrine,  the  church  of 
Christ,  and  the  community  at  large  have  felt  a  pain- 
ful wound,  teach  us  to  live  the  life  of  the  righteous, 
that  we  may  also  have  hopes  of  the  divine  approba- 
tion at  our  death.  Let  those  virtues  and  graces, 
which  shone  with  a  distinguished  lustre  in  the  pri- 
vate life  and  the  public  conduct  of  our  departed 
friend,  engage  us  all  who  have  in  one  way  or  other 
enjoyed  the  benefit  of  his  pious  and  useful  labours, 
to  remember  him  who  has  spoken  to  us  the  vrard  of 


THE  NEW  LONDON  SCHOOL.         183 

God,  and  considering  the  issue  of  his  conversation, 
imitate  his  faith.  That  gracious  God  who  has  told 
us  that  the  righteous  shall  be  had  in  everlasting  re- 
membrance, expects  that  they  should  concur  in 
accomplishing  that  comfortable  promise,  and  not 
counteract  it  by  burying  their  eminent  virtues  in  an 
ungrateful  oblivion.  Let  us  so  remember  them  as 
that  we  may  feel  their  constraining  efficacy  to  excite 
in  us  a  laudable  emulation. 

"  And  now,  my  friends,  let  me  close  the  present 
address  with  a  word  to  you  who  have  long  enjoyed 
his  ministerial  labours.  You  are  now  deprived  of  an 
opportunity  of  hearing  the  word  of  God  from  his 
mouth  ;  of  listening  to  his  warm  and  pathetic  en- 
treaties to  be  reconciled  to  God  through  a  Redeemer-, 
of  joining  with  him  in  ardent  supplications  to  the 
throne  of  grace:  and  of  receiving  any  further  in- 
tructions  from  his  labours  among  you.  We  cannot 
but  trust,  that  some  of  you  will  have  reason  to  bless 
God  eternally,  that  he  has,  in  his  wise  providence, 
placed  you  under  his  ministry,  while  our  solicitude 
for  your  salvation  makes  us  fear  that  others  of  you 
may  yet  remain  barren  and  unfruitful  under  all  the 
cultivation  of  divine  grace  by  the  hand  of  this  faith- 
ful watchman  in  Israel.  You  are,  therefore,  tliis  day 
addressed  by  this  mournful  dispensation  of  divine 
providence,  and  called  to  make  a  solemn  pause,  and 
to  consider  what  improvement  you  have  made  of 
his  labours.     To  recollect  the  compassionate  warn- 


124  THE    M:u      MI.NDiiN     .>>(  H(JOl,. 

ings  he  has  given  you  of  your  danger,  the  warm 
expostulations  he  has  made  wiih  you,  and  the  strong 
cries  he  has  often  raised  to  the  God  of  mercy  for 
your  salvation.  And,  if  you  have  any  grateful  re- 
membrance of  his  pious  and  useful  labours,  let  me 
exhort  and  entreat  you  to  discover  it  by  a  constant 
and  careful  attendance  upon  the  means  of  grace 
with  which  you  are  yet  favoured.  These  are  ap- 
pointed to  bring  you  to  God  and  to  glory,  to  the 
spirits  of  just  men  made  perfect,  and  all  the  first- 
born sons  of  glory  above.  It  is  not  long  before  you 
shall  be  deprived  of  all  these  golden  opportunities 
to  secure  your  eternal  salvation ;  and  let  this  awaken- 
ing consideration  excite  us  so  to  speak,  and  you  to 
hear  the  word  of  God,  that  our  mutual  account  at 
the  bar  of  our  Judge  may  be  joyful."' 

Though  the  New  Brunswick  jiresbytery  and  its 
adherents,  were  in  a  minority  at  the  time  of  their 
exclusion  from  the  synod  of  Philadelphia  ;  yet  the 
whole  of  the  New  York  presbytery  were  absent,  on 
that  occasion,  and  for  several  years  afterwards,  re- 
monstrated against  the  act  by  which  these  brethren, 
without  any  trial,  were  cut  otf  from  the  body :  and 
when  they  could  not  prevail  with  the  synod  of  Phil- 
adelphia to  receive  these  excluded  brethren  again 
into  their  fellowship,  this  whole  presbytery  with- 
drew from  the  synod,  and  attached  themselves  to  the 
exscinded  body,  and  with  tliem  formed  a  new  synod, 
which  took  the  name  of,  The  Synod  of  New  York. 


THE    XEVV    LONDON    SCHOOL.  125 

And  in  a  short  time  they  considerably  outnumbered 
the  old  synod. 

The  Log  College  still  existed,  but  it  was  manifestly 
on  the  decline.  The  venerable  founder  became  in- 
firm, so  that  he  could  not  perform  his  pastoral  duties; 
of  course  he  was  no  longer  capable  of  paying  much 
attention  to  the  school.  In  these  circumstances,  the 
necessity  of  another  institution,  of  a  higher  charac- 
ter, became  urgent.  A  variety  of  circumstances 
combined  to  render  the  time  auspicious  for  the  es- 
tablishment of  a  college,  under  the  patronage  of  the 
synod.  Accordingly,  by  the  pious  zeal  and  ener- 
getic action  of  Governor  Belcher,  with  the  cordial 
co-operation  of  the  synod  of  New  York,  a  charter 
was  obtained  from  the  king  of  Great  Britain,  as  am- 
ple in  its  privileges  as  could  be  desired.  Just  as  the 
Log  College  expired,  the  College  of  New  Jersey 
sprang  into  existence.  The  friends  and  patrons  of  the 
former,  became  the  principal  supporters  and  trustees 
of  the  latter.  Thus  it  may  with  truth  be  said,  that  the 
Log  College  was  the  germ  from  which  proceeded  the 
flourishing  College  of  New  Jersey.  While  the  synod 
of  Philadelphia  were  labouring  to  establish  a  school 
for  training  young  men  at  New  London,  the  synod 
of  New  York  were  exerting  themselves  to  erect  a 
college  which  should  stand  upon  a  level  with  any 
other  institution  in  the  country.  Messrs.  Dickinson 
and  Burr,  the  first  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  church 
in  Elizabethtown,  and  the  last,  in  Newark,  took  the 


If  6  THE    NKVV    LONDON    SfllOOL. 

lead  in  this  enterprise.      Both  these  distinguished 
divines  were  gradujites  of  Vale  College  ;  but  just  ^it 
this  time,  their  minds  probably  experienced  some 
alienation  from  their  alma  mater,  on  account  of  the 
harsh  treatment  which  Mr.  David  lirainerd  had  re- 
ceived  from  the   officers  of  that  college.     For  he 
had  been  expelled  merely  for  a  harsh  word,  spoken 
in  a  private  company,  and  overheard  by  a  student 
who  happened  to  be  passing  the  door,  who  knew 
not  to  whom  it  referred.     But  the  persons  present, 
contrary  to  every  rule  of  propriety,  were  forced  by 
the  faculty,  to  testify  to  whom  reference  was  had. 
Mr.  Brainerd,  at  the  time  of  his  expulsion,   Avas  a 
member  of  the  Junior  Class.      Having  applied  to 
the  presbytery  of  New  York,  he  was  taken  under 
their  care,  and  having  manifested   a  strong  desire 
to  go  and  preach  the  gospel  to  the  heathen  in  our 
land,  the  Commissioners  appointed  by  the  Society  in 
Scotland,  to  employ  a   missionary   to  the    Indians, 
selected  Mr.  Brainerd.     It  appears,  that  President 
Clapp,  in  his   letter   to  the   synod  of  Philadelphia, 
complained  of  the  New  York  presbytery  for  receiv- 
ing under  their  care,  persons  who  had  left  the  col- 
lege, under  censure ;  where  the  reference  was  un- 
doubtedly   to    David    Brainerd.      A   strong  desire 
was    now    felt  both  by    Mr.    Brainerd    and    his 
friends,  to  get  the  stigma   removed  from  his  char- 
acter.    And  to  effect  this,  the  Commissioners  who 
had   employed  Mr.    Brainerd,    deputed   the   Rev. 
Mr.  Burr,  one  of  their  number,  to  go  to  New  Haven, 


THE    NEW    LOXDUN    SCHOOL.  127 

at  the  commencement,  when  his  class  were  about 
to  be  graduated,  to  endeavour  to  have  him  re- 
stored. Jonathan  Edwards,  also,  who  then  be- 
came acquainted  with  Mr.  Brainerd,  and  formed 
a  strong  attachment  to  him,  used  all  his  influ- 
ence to  accomplish  the  object ;  but  their  eflbrts 
were  ineflectual.  The  faculty  of  the  college  re- 
mained inflexible,  or  as  it  may  more  properly  be 
termed,  obstinate.  They  did  offer,  that  if  he  would 
return  and  remain  another  year  in  college,  without 
giving  off'ence,  they  would  then  give  him  his  degree. 
But  this  could  not  be  done  without  disconcerting  the 
whole  plan  of  the  mission  for  which  he  was  engaged, 
and  in  which  he  became  so  eminently  successful* 
The  attachment  of  all  the  members  of  the  New 
York  synod  to  Mr.  Brainerd  was  warm,  and  de- 
servedly so.  This  affair,  it  is  very  probable,  quick- 
ened the  zeal  of  these  excellent  men  to  get  up  a  col- 
lege of  their  own.  Some  years  ago,  the  writer  heard 
the  relict  of  the  late  Dr.  Scott,  of  New  Brunswick, 
say,  that  when  she  was  a  little  girl,  she  heard  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Burr  declare  in  her  father's  house,  in  New- 
ark, "  if  it  had  not  been  for  the  treatment  received 
by  Mr.  Brainerd  at  Yale,  New  Jersey  college  would 
never  have  been  erected."  How  many  influences 
are  made  to  combine  and  operate,  when  Providence 
has  the  design  of  giving  existence  to  an  institution 
which  has  affected,  and  will  still  affect  the  happi- 
ness of  thousands ! 

*  See  Life  of  Brainerd,  p.  107. 


CHAPTEJl   VIJ. 

MEMOIR   OF  TUK   REV.  JOHN  TENNENT. 

Birth — Religious  Exercises  and  Conversion — Entrance  into  the  rain, 
iatry — Settlement  at  Freehold,  Monmouth  County — Great  Succcm 
— Early  Death. 

Although  John  Tenneiit  was  younger  than  his 
brother  WiUiam,  being  the  third  son  of  the  Rev. 
Wilham  Tennent,  Sen. ;  yet,  on  several  accounts,  it 
seems  expedient  to  place  the  short  memoir  of  him, 
before  that  of  his  elder  brother.  It  would  seem  from 
all  that  we  can  learn  respecting  these  men,  that 
John  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  before  Wil- 
liam. This  was  probably  owing  to  the  fact,  that 
William  Tennent,  jr.  suffered  much  loss  of  time  by 
severe  sickness,  as  will  hereafter  appear.  Or,  it 
may  haA^e  been  the  case,  that  William  was  engaged 
longer  than  his  brother,  in  assisting  his  father  in 
teaching,  in  the  Log  College.  But,  whatever  may 
have  been  the  case,  it  is  certain,  that  the  Rev.  John 
Tennent  was  settled  in  the  ministry,  some  years  be- 
fore his  brother ;  and  that  the  Rev.  William  Tennent 
was  not  settled  as  a  pastor,  until  after  the  death  of 
his  brother  John,  when  he  became  his  successor  in 


THE   r.Kv.  .)ons  ti:nnt,nt.  TJM 

Ihe  church  at  Freehold,  as  will  appear  when  we 
give  a  memoir  of  him  ;  and  it  is  principally  on  this 
accomit  that  we  place  John,  foremost. 

The  third  son  of  the  Rev.  William  Tennent, 
sen.,  was  born  in  the  county  of  Armagh,  in  Ire- 
land, in  the  year  1707,  Nov.  12,  and  was  therefore 
only  nine  years  of  age  when  his  father  came  to 
America.  The  whole  of  his  education  he  obtained 
under  the  paternal  roof,  and  in  the  Log  College, 
which  his  father  had  founded  at  Neshaminy. 

Of  his  conversion  to  God,  we  have  an  interesting 
narrative,  from  the  pen  of  liis  brother  Gilbert,  writ- 
ten after  his  death,  and  prellxed  lo  some  of  his  ser- 
mons, which  were  pubUshed  iii  a  pemphlet  after  his 
decease. 

"His  conviction  of  his  sin,  danger,  and  misery* 
was  the  most  violent  in  degree,  of  any  I  ever  saw. 
For  several  days  and  nights  together,  he  was  made 
to  cry  out  in  the  most  dolorous  and  affecting  manner, 
almost  every  moment.  Tbe  words  which  he  used 
in  his  soul-agony  were  these,  « 0  my  bloody,  lost 
soul !  What  shall  I  do  ?  Have  mercy  on  me,  0  God, 
for  Christ's  sake.'  Sometimes,  he  was  brought  to 
the  very  brink  of  despair,  and  would  conclude, 
'surely  God  would  never  have  mercy  on  such  a 
great  sinner  as  he  was.'  And  yet  his  life  was  un- 
stained with  those  scandalous  extravagances,  by 
which  too  many  in  their  youth  are  ensnared.  His 
natural  predominant  sin  was  rash  anger;  and  the 


1.10  THK     1!K\-.    JOHN    TFNNKST. 

woisl  I  ever  knew  liiin  guilty  of,  was,  some  inde- 
cent haste  in  this  way,  on  account  of  which  he'wjiB 
afterwards  exceedingly  humbled,  and  against  which 
he  became  very  watcliful.  His  passionateness  cost 
him  many  a  deep  sob,  heavy  groan,  and  salt  tear- 
After  it  pleased  God  to  confer  his  grace  upon  him, 
he  was  remarkably  altered  in  this  particular,  and 
gained  in  a  great  measure,  an  ascendancy  over  his 
besetting  sin.  Whilst  under  conviction,  his  distress 
was  such  as  to  induce  him  to  make  an  open  confes- 
sion of  his  sins  to  almost  all  that  came  near  him,  and 
also  to  beg  their  prayers  in  his  behalf,  at  a  throne  of 
grace.  And  this  he  did  in  the  most  earnest,  and 
beseeching  manner.  His  dolorous  groans,  and  ve- 
hement importunity  were  such,  as  greatly  to  affect 
even  strangers  who  came  to  see  him.  And  he  ear- 
nestly and  frequently  begged  of  God,  that  He  would 
humble  him  to  tb.e  dust,  and  beneath  the  dust. 

"  One  morning,  about  break  of  day,  after  great 
wrestling  through  the  night  and  day  preceding,  he 
took  occasion  to  speak  as  surprisingly  as  ever  I 
heard  any  mortal,  about  the  morning  star,  longing 
and  praying  that  the  blessed  Jesus,  the  true,  the 
bright,  the  beautiful  morning  Star,  who  brought  the 
light  and  day  into  a  dark  world,  would  appear  in 
mercy  to  his  poor  soul.  And  then,  at  the  rising  of 
the  sun,  he  entreated  that  the  Sun  of  righteousness 
might  shine  upon  his  disconsolate,  dejected,  wretched 
soul,  with  beams  of  mercy  and  salvation.     His  heart 


THE    UEV.    JOIIX    TENNENT.  131 

appeared  to  be  sick,  sore-sick,  with  panting  after 
Christ ;  so  as  to  be  ready  to  burst  in  pieces.  I  have 
through  the  riches  of  free  grace  been  favoured  with 
the  sight  of  many  a  convinced  sinner,  but  never 
did  I  behold  any  other  in  such  a  rack  of  acute  and 
continued  anguish,  under  the  dismal  apprehensions 
of  impending  ruin  and  endless  misery,  from  the  ven- 
geance of  a  just  and  holy  God. 

''  Perceiving  such  evident  signs  of  deep  conviction, 
humiliation,  and  earnest  desire,  I  offered  to  him  for 
his  comfort  all  the  most  encouraging  invitations  and 
promises,  adapted  to  his  case  ;  and  sometimes  en- 
deavoured to  persuade  him  that  he  had  an  interest 
in  these  promises,  since  God  had  wrought  in  him 
those  conditions  on  which  the  blessings  Avere  sus- 
pended. But  although  this  would  sometimes  yield 
him  a  temporary  relief;  yet  in  a  little  while  he 
would  break  forth  again  with  the  most  doleful  lam- 
entations; complaining  that  no  promise  in  the  book 
of  God  belonged  to  him;  and  denying  that  any 
of  those  conditions  to  which  the  promises  were 
made,  had  been  wrought  in  him.  The  truth  is,  his 
wound  was  so  deep  that  none  but  God's  arm  could 
heal  it.  But  it  pleased  God,  after  an  agony  almost 
uninterrupted  for  four  days  and  four  nights,  during 
which  he  cried  out  incessantly  as  described  above, 
that  he  would  make  his  consolations  as  eminent  and 
conspicuous  as  his  convictions  had  been  severe.  It 
is  worthy  of  remark,  that  for  some  time  before  it 


132  TIIK     tH.V.    .lOlIN      rKNNr.NT. 

pleased  the  Almighty  to  shed  abroad  the  beams  ol 
his  love  and  mercy  on  his  soul,  he  was  nnieh  exer- 
cised with  sorrowl'iii  and  piercing  reflections  ou  ac- 
coimt  of  his  hypocrisy.  He  judged  himself  to  be  at 
pharisee  and  a  hypocrite,  for  crying  out  as  he  had 
done  ;  and  yet  the  sharpness  of  his  inward  pain  was 
such,  that  he  could  not  prevent  it,  therefore,  he 
would  have  all  people  out  of  the  room,  that  he  might 
pray  and  mourn,  alone. 

"One  morning,  when  I  went  to  see  him,  I  per- 
ceived a  great  alteration  in  his  coimtenance  ;  for  he, 
that  an  hour  before  had  looked  like  a  condemned 
man  going  to  be  put  to  some  cruel  death,  now  ap- 
peared with  a  cheerful,  gladsome  countenance,  and 
spoke  to  me  in  these  words,  <  0  brother,  the  Lord 
Jesus  has  come  in  mercy  to  my  soul.  I  was  begging 
for  a  crumb  of  mercy  with  the  dogs,  and  Christ  has 
told  me  that  he  will  give  me  a  crumb.'  Then  he 
desired  me  to  thank  God  in  prayer,  which  I  did 
more  than  once.  He  also  requested  me  to  praise 
God  by  singing  part  of  a  psalm,  which  I  complied 
with,  and  sang  the  34th.  It  was,  indeed,  surprising 
to  hear  this  person  singing  the  praises  of  God  with 
more  clearness,  energy,  and  joy,  than  anj'  of  the 
spectators  who  had  crowded  in,  on  this  extraordi- 
nary and  solemn  occasion.  And  that,  especially, 
when  it  is  considered,  that  now  it  was  ten  o'clock 
m  the  forenoon,  whereas,  at  three  o'clock  in  the 
same  morning,  he  was  speechless  for  some  minutes, 


THE    REV.    JOHN    TEN-NEXT.  133 

and  thought  by  all  present  to  be  expiring,  in  death. 
The  consolations  of  God  had  such  an  influence  upon 
him,  that  about  an  hour  or  two  afterwards,  he 
walked  about  thirty  rods  to  see  his  brother  William, 
who  was  then  extremely  sick,  nigh  unto  death,  and 
thought  by  most  to  be  past  all  human  hope  of  re- 
covery. He  said,  he  must  see  his  brother,  to  tell 
him  what  God  had  done  for  his  soul,  that  he  might 
praise  God  on  his  account  before  he  died.  And 
when  he  entered  the  room  where  his  brother  was 
lying,  his  joy  appeared  to  overflow,  and  he  ad- 
dressed him  in  the  following  words:  '0  brother, 
the  Lord  has  looked  with  pity  on  my  soul.  Let  the 
heavens,  earth,  and  sea,  and  all  that  in  them  is, 
praise  God.!'  But  being  exposed  too  soon  to  the 
cool  air,  he  fell  into  a  fever,  and  then  called  in  ques- 
tion that  eminent  discovery  of  God's  love,  which  he 
had  experienced.  Kut  it  was  not  long  before  he 
was  again  comforted ;  and  from  this  time,  a  great 
cnange  in  his  conversation  was  manifest.  And 
while  he  experienced  many  seasons  of  the  sealing 
of  God's  covenant  love  ;  yet  in  the  intervals,  he  was 
often  dejected,  and  distressed  with  doubts  and  fears, 
respecting  his  own  State. 

"  He  gave  the  best  evidence  of  a  change  of  heart 
in  the  conscientious  and  diligent  performance  of  all 
Christian  duties ;  even  of  those  most  opposite  to  our 
corrupt  nature,  such  as  secret  prayer  and  fasting 
He  was  a  tender-hearted  courteous  relative,  and  of 


134  THK    llEV.    JOHN     IKNNENT. 

a  very  sympathetic  spirit.  His  respectful  and  affec- 
tionate treatment  of  his  reverend  and  aged  father 
and  his  kind  mother,  merits  an  honourable  mention. 
His  great  soul  disdained  any  tiling  that  was  mean, 
and  inclined  him  to  the  most  noble  and  generous 
actions  that  were  within  his  power. 

"  He  was  endowed  by  his  Creator  with  a  natural 
quickness  of  apprehension,  copiousness  of  fancy, 
and  fluency  of  expression,  which  served  to  qualify 
him  eminently  for  the  office  of  a  preacher.  He  had 
made  no  contemptible  progress  in  the  learned  lan- 
guages, and  also  in  philosophical  and  theological 
studies ;  but  he  particularly  excelled  in  the  polemical 
and  casuistical  branches  of  divinity.  He  was  well 
known  to  be  an  expert  disputant  and  casuist ;  but 
that  which  crowned  his  other  attainments,  and  made 
them  appear  with  beauty  and  lustre,  was,  his  un- 
feigned and  eminent  piety. 

"  His  attainments  in  the  Christian  graces  were 
eminently  conspicuous  in  the  following  particulars. 
First,  his  humility.  He  was  wont  to  speak  of  him- 
self in  the  most  abasing  terms ;  saying,  that  he 
thought  himself  one  of  the  worst  creatures  the  crea- 
tion bore.  And  on  his  dying  bed  he  desired  his  re- 
lations to  forbear  any  funeral  encomiums  lupon  him, 
when  he  was  gone ;  for  he  declared  with  vehemence 
that  he  was  not  worthy  of  them.  When  admitted 
to  preach,  he  would  often,  in  his  private  studies, 
take  the  Bible  in  his  hand,  and  would  walk  up  and 


THE     KEV.    JOIIX    TENXENT.  135 

down  the  room  weeping  and  mourning,  that  al- 
though there  was  a  treasury  of  precious  truth  con- 
tained in  that  blessed  book,  he  understood  so  little 
of  them.  A  sense  of  the  greatness  of  the  ministerial 
work,  and  of  his  ignorance  and  unfitness  for  it,  was 
often  a  \'ery  oppressive  burden  to  him.  It  was  a 
striking  evidence  of  the  low  opinion  which  he  en- 
tertained of  himself,  that  he  never  could  be  persua- 
ded tliat  a  holy  God  would  bless  the  labours  of  a 
person  every  way  so  mean  and  so  unworthy  as  he 
felt  himself  to  be.  And  when  informed  that  certain 
persons  had  been  convinced  under  his  ministry,  he 
could  not  for  some  time  believe  that  the  work  was 
genuine,  until  farther  conviction  was  afforded,  by 
bright  and  incontestable  evidences. 

"  His  love  to  Christ  was  manifest  to  all  who  had 
the  opportunity  of  hearing  his  earnest  and  importu- 
nate prayers.  Indeed,  Christ  and  him  crucified  was 
the  end  at  which  he  aimed,  the  sacred  centre  in 
which  all  the  lines  of  his  life  terminated.  Christ 
was  the  object  of  his  supreme  love,  and  highest  ad- 
miration. 

"  He  possessed  also  a  flaming  zeal  for  the  estab- 
lishment and  promotion  of  the  Messiah's  kingdom. 
It  was  his  oft  repeated  petition,  that  God  would 
make  him  serviceable  to  his  church ;  and  that  he 
would  not  suffer  him  to  live  merely  to  devour  the 
alms  of  the  church,  but  that  he  would  rather  re- 
move  him  to  himself,  before  he  became  useless." 

I 


13f5  rnn   i;rv.   .lonx  tk^ak^t. 

When  Mr.  John  Tcnnent  had  finished  his  prepa- 
ratory studies  in  the  Log  College,  he  presented  him- 
self to  the  presbytery  of  Philadelphia ;  and  after 
passing  with  credit  the  usual  trials  he  was  licensed 
to  preach  tlie  gospel. 

Soon  after  Mr.  Teiincnl's  licensure,  he  visited  the 
congregation  of  Freehold,  in  the  county  of  INIon- 
mouth,  New  Jersey  ;  which  was  now  without  a 
pastor.  This  congregation  owed  its  origin  to  some 
Scotch  people  who  Avere  cast  on  the  Jersey  shore  ; 
the  vessel  Caledonia,  in  which  they  sailed,  having 
been  stranded  on  our  coast.  These  people,  being 
thus  by  the  Providence  of  God  cast  upon  this 
land,  determined  to  take  up  their  abode  in  the 
country,  near  to  the  place  where  tliey  reached  the 
shore  ;  and  being  Presbyterians,  they  were  not  con- 
tent to  live  without  the  ordinances  of  public  wor- 
ship, according  to  the  creed  and  usages  of  the  church 
of  Scotland.  They,  accordingly,  set  about  building 
a  house  of  worship  ;  which  was  situated  a  few  miles 
east  of  the  present  church  of  Freehold  ;  where  the 
remains  of  the  old  building,  and  a  grave-yard,  are 
yet  to  be  seen.  For  some  time,  this  congregation 
was  supplied  by  the  Rev.  Joseph  Morgan ;  but  he 
having  left  them  early  in  the  year  1730,  they  invited 
young  Mr.  Tcnnent  to  preach  to  them,  as  a  candi- 
date. Being  a  young  man  of  uncommon  modesty 
and  humility,  he  was  very  reluctant  to  go ;  and  even 
p.ftcr  he  had  consented  to  visit  them,  as  his  brother 


THE     KKV.    JOHN'     iKNyEXT.  137^ 

William,  in  his  letter  to  Mr.  Prince  of  Boston,  in- 
forms us,  he  regretted  the  engagement  very  much ; 
for  it  seemed  to  him,  that  they  were  a  people  A\diom 
God  had  given  up  for  the  abuse  of  the  gospel.  But 
though  he  went  under  tJiis  cloud  of  discouragement, 
Jiis  first  labours  among  this  people  were  remarkably 
blessed.  On  his  first  visit,  he  preached  four  or  five 
Sabbaths,  and  found  stirred  up  among  the  people  a 
serious  disposition  to  attend  to  the  concerns  of  their 
souls,  and  to  ^earch  the  scriptures  to  see  whether 
the  things  which  they  heard  from  the  pulpit  were 
so.  And  he  was  assisted  to  preach  with  so  much 
freedom,  that  he  told  his  brother  William,  that  he 
ivas  fully  persuaded,  that  Christ  Jesus  had  a  large 
liarvest  to  bring  home,  there;  and  though  they  were 
a  poor  broken  people  ;  yet  if  they  called  him  he 
would  go  to  them,  though  he  should  be  under  the 
necessity  of  begging  his  bread.  On  the  15th  of 
April,  1730,  they  assembled  and  gave  him  an  unan- 
imous call,  which  he  accepted,  and  was  ordained, 
November  lOtli  of  the  same  year. 

"  His  labours  in  this  congregation,"  according  to 
his  brother  Gilbert, ''  were  attended  with  three  no- 
table qualities,  prudence,  diligence,  and  success." 
Though  the  time  was  short  which  he  was  permitted 
to  remain  am.ong  them,  yet  his  labours  were  abun- 
dant. His  race  was  swift  and  vehement  ;  and  his 
heart  was  so  fixed  on  the  work  of  God,  that  he  could 
not  be  persuaded  to   desist  from  his  public  labours, 


l:j8  IIIE    REV.    JOHN    TENNENT. 

even  when  liis  body  was  emaciated,  and  debilitated 
by  a  consumptive  disease  ;  and  when,  in  tlie  judg- 
ment of  physicians,  it  was  prejudicial  to  his  broken 
constitution. 

"  In  his  public  discourses,  not  to  mention  the  just- 
ness of  his  method,  the  beauty  of  his  style,  and  the 
fluency  of  his  expression,  by  which  he  chained  his 
not  unwilling  hearers  to  his  lips,  he  was  very  awa- 
kening and  terrible  to  unbelievers,  in  denouncing, 
and  describing  with  the  most  vehement  pathos  and 
awful  solemnity,  the  terrors  of  an  offended  Deity, 
the  threats  of  a  broken  law,  and  the  miseries  of  a 
sinful  state.  And  this  subject  he-  insisted  much 
upon,  because,  he  with  many  others,  found  it  the 
most  effectual  and  successful  means  to  alarm  secure 
sinners.  He  used  a  close,  distinguishing,  and  de- 
tecting method,  in  the  application  of  his  sermons ; 
which,  with  his  pungent  mode  of  expression,  was 
very  piercing  and  solemn.  But,  as  Dr.  Watts  ob- 
serves of  Mr.  Gouge,  he  knew  the  pity  of  Eman- 
uel's heart,  as  well  as  the  terrors  of  Jehovah's 
hand."  He  was  as  tender  and  compassionate  in  his 
addresses  to  gracious  souls,  as  faithful  to  brandish 
and  apply  the  laAv's  lancet  to  the  secure  :  and  he  was 
as  willing  to  do  the  one  as  the  other.  But  indeed  he 
was  very  caiitious  of  misapplying  the  different  por- 
tions of  the  word  to  his  hearers  ;  or  of  setting  before 
them  only  a  common  mess,  and  leaving  it  to  them  to 
divide  amon?  themselves,  as  their  fonry  and  humour 


THE    REV.    JOHN    TEXNENT.  139 

directed  them ;  for  he  well  knew  that  was  the  bane 
of  preachmg. 

"Once  more  ;  he  was  a  successful  preacher.  When 
he  was  under  trials  for  the  ministry,  he  was  much 
exercised  with  doubts,  difficulties,  and  distresses 
about  his  call  to  this  great  and  awful  trust ;  but  it 
pleased  God  to  dissipate  these  clouds,  and  to  afford 
to  his  perplexed  and  anxious  mind  abundant  satis- 
faction respecting  this  matter,  by  the  numerous 
seals  which  crowned  his  public  labours  :  for  as  the 
famous  Rutherford  says,  '  it  is  not  probable  that 
God  would  seal  a  blank.'  It  may  truly  be  said  of 
him,  that  he  gained  more  poor  sinners  to  Christ,  in 
that  little  compass  of  time  which  he  had  to  improve 
in  the  ministerial  work,  which  was  about  three  and 
a  half  years,  than  many  in  the  space  of  twenty,  thir- 
ty, forty,  or  fifty  years.  Many  souls  have,  and  will 
have  reason,  through  eternity,  to  bless  God  that 
'ever  they  saw  him.  But  though  he  was  thus  hon- 
oured with  the  smiles  of  heaven  upon  his  labours ; 
and  though  favoured  with  the  kind  regards  of  a 
loving  and  generous  people,  who  had  it  been  possi- 
ble would  have  plucked  out  their  own  eyes  and 
have  given  them  to  him ;  so  that  no  minister  before 
was  ever  the  object  of  a  more  respectful  regard  and 
sympathy ;  yet  was  he  far  from  being  exalted  in  his 
own  mind,  but  through  grace  retained  a  just,  grate- 
ful, and  humble  sense  of  God's  distinguishing  good- 
ness, and  his  own  unAvorthiness. 

13 


140  THE    REV.    J  on  N    TEXNENT. 

"  As  he  drew  nearer  to  liis  end,  his  love  for  his 
people,  and  concern  for  their  welfare  increased.  He 
would  often  express  himself  to  one  of  his  brothers* 
in  such  language  as  the  following,  '  I  am  grieved 
for  my  people,  for  I  fear  they  will  be  left  to  wander 
as  sheep  without  a  shepherd ;  or  get  one  that  will 
pull  down  what  I  have  poorly  endeavoured  to  build 
up.'  Ilis  brother,  who  watched  with  him  in  his 
sickness,  has  frequently  overheard  him  in  the  deep 
silence  of  the  night,  wrestling  with  God  by  prayer, 
with  sobs  and  tears,  for  his  people.  Yea,  when  so 
reduced  by  consumption  that  he  could  scarce  walk 
alone,  he  bore  the  pains  of  this  lingering  disease 
with  unbroken  patience,  and  silent  submission  to 
his  Father's  pleasure,  until  it  pleased  God  to  open  a 
door  of  escape  to  his  captive  soul,  through  the  ruins 
of  his  decayed  frame. 

"  On  Saturday  evening — the  last  evening  of  his 
life — he  was  seized  with  a  violent  pang  of  death 
which  was  thought  by  his  attendants  to  be  the  last ; 
from  which  unexpectedly  recovering,  and  observing 
a  confusion  among  them,  he  addressed  one,  whom 
he  saw  uncommonly  atfected,  with  a  cheerful  coun- 
tenance, in  the  following  words,  '  I  would  not  have 
you  think  the  worse  of  the  ways  of  holiness,  because 
you  see  me  in  such  agonies  of  distress,  for  I  know 
there  is  a  crown  of  glory  in  heaven  for  nie,  which 
I  shall  shortly  wear.'  Afterwards,  in  the  night,  he 
often  prayed,  <  Come  Lord  Jesus ! — 0  Jesus,  Avhy 


THE    RKV.    JOHN     TKNNENT.  141 

dosl  thou  linger  ?'  Some  time  before  day,  he  re- 
peated with  humble  confidence  the  last  words  of 
David,  '  Although  my  house  be  not  so  with  God, 
yet  hath  he  made  with  me  an  everlasting  covenant, 
ordered  in  all  things  and  sure  ;  for  this  is  all  my 
salvation,  and  all  my  desire.' — 2  Sam.  xxiii.  5. 

"  About  the  break  of  day,  he  called  iiis  brother 
William  to  prayer,  and  earnestly  desired  him  to  im- 
plore Heaven  for  his  speedy  removal,  for,  he  said, 
he  longed  to  be  gone.  About  eight  or  nine  o'- 
clock of  the  next  day,  which  was  the  Sabbath,  his 
desire  was  granted;  when  it  pleased  his  Master  to 
translate  him  to  that  great  assembly  of  the  just, '  the 
church  of  the  firstborn,  there  to  celebrate  an  eternal 
Sabbath,  in  praises  and  songs  of  triumph. 

"  A  few  minutes  before  he  expired,  holding  his 
brother  William  by  the  hand,  he  broke  out  into  the 
following  rapturous  expressions ;  '  Farewell,  my 
brethren,  farewell  father  and  mother ;  farewell 
world,  with  all  thy  vain  delights.  Welcome,  God 
and  Father — welcome,  sweet  Lord  Jesus !  Wei" 
coms  death — welcome  eternity.  Amen  !  Then, 
with  a  low  voice,  he  said,  '  Lord  Jesus,  come  Lord 
Jesus  !'  And  so  he  fell  asleep  in  Christ,  and  obtained 
an  abundant  entrance  into  the  everlasting  kingdom 
of  his  God  and  Saviour." 

He  was  buried  in  the  grave-yard  near  to  the 
church,  where  he  preached,  and  where  his  tomb- 
stone may  vet  be  sr^en.     The  Rev.  Jonathan  Dickin- 


142  tuj:   kev.  joiin   'I'e.n.nknt. 

son,  of  Klizabctlitown,  composed  lor  his  tornb-stone, 
the  following  epitaph  : 

"Who quick  grow  old  in  learning,  virluc,  grace, 
Quick  finished,  well-yielded  to  death's  embrace  : 
Whose  mouldered  dust,  this  cabinet  contains, 
Whose  soul  triumphant,  with  bright  seraphs  reigns  ; 
Waiting  the  time  'till  heaven's  bright  concave  flame, 
And  the  last  trump  repairs  his  ruined  frame." 

Much  praise  cannot  be  awarded  to  the  poetr\'  of 
tlie  foregoing  epitapli,  but  it  serves  to  show  in  what 
estimation  Mr.  Tcnnent  was  held,  by  one  of  the 
most  eminent  theologians  of  his  day. 

His  death  occurred  on  the  23d  day  of  April,  1732, 
in  the  twenty-fifth  year  of  his  age. 

Mr.  Gilbert  Tennent,  with  the  memoir  of  his  bro- 
ther John,  published  also  one  of  his  sermons.  The 
subject  is  "  Regeneration  •,"  and  is  treated  in  a  clear, 
discriminating  manner. 

As  far  as  can  be  judged  from  the  accounts  which 
have  come  down  to  us,  respecting  this  yoimg  pas- 
tor, and  from  the  aforesaid  discourse,  there  is  reason 
to  conclude,  that  both  in  piety  and  talents,  he  was 
not  inferior  to  any  one  of  his  brothers  ;  and  that  if 
he  had  lived  to  the  usual  period  of  human  life,  he 
would  have  been  "  a  burning  and  a  shining  light" 
in  the  church. 

The  people  of  his  charge  were  greatly  attached 
to  him,  and  exceedingly  lamented  his  death.  There 
is  still  cvtant,  the  fragment  of  an  old  manuscript 


THE    REV,    JOHN    TENNENT.  143 

book,  kept  by  the  session  of  his  church,  in  which  is 
contained  the  following  entry  : 

"  A  mournful  providence  and  cause  of  great  hu- 
miliation to  this  poor  congregation,  to  he  bereaved, 
in  the  flower  of  youth,  of  the  most  laborious,  suc- 
cessful, well-qualified,  and  pious  pastor,  this  age 
aff'orded ;  though  but  a  youth  of  twenty-four  years 
five  months  and  eleven  days."  In  this  record,  he  is 
called,  "  the  reverend  and  dear  Mr.  John  Tennent." 

It  may  be  gratifying  to  some  to  know  the  names 
of  some  of  the  principal  families  which  constituted 
the  congregation  of  Freehold,  which  have  been 
taken  from  the  record  before  mentioned.  Among 
them  we  find  Ker,  Craig,  Forman,  Anderson,  New- 
all,  Gordon,  Lloyd,  Crawford,  Henderson,  Robinson, 
Rhea,  Watson,  Wilson,  Campbell,  Covenhoven,  Lit- 
tle, Cumraing,  English,  &c. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

REV.  WM.  TENNENT'S  LETTER. 

The  Rev.  William  Tennenl's  Letter,  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Prince,  of  Bos- 
ton, giving  the  character  of  the  revival  in  Freehold,  N.  J. 

The  following  letter  is  introduced  here,  because 
it  gives  an  account  of  the  fruits  of  the  ministry  of 
the  Rev.  John  Tcnnent.  It  is  given  literally  from 
Prince's  Christian  History. 

"Freehold,  Ocfober  llth,  1144. 
"  Rev.  and  Dear  Sir, 

"  I  desire  to  notice  thankfully  the  late  rich  display 
of  our  glorious  Emanuel's  grace,  in  subduing  by  his 
word  and  Spirit,  multitudes  of  sinners  to  himself, 
both  in  this  and  other  lands.  0  may  he  go  on  '  con- 
quering and  to  conquer,'  until  he  has  subdued  all 
things  unto  himself!  Isieither  can  I  think  but  that 
the  writing  of  a  history  of  the  great  things  our  Lord 
has  done  among  us,  has  a  tendency  to,  and  will  by 
the  blessing  of  God  upon  it,  excite  generations  yet 
unborn  to  praise  his  glorious  name,  and  thereby  his 
honour  will  be  advanced,  and  liis  triimiphs  in- 
creased !     Most  gladly,  therefore,  do  I  comply  with 


THK    REV.    WM.    TENNKNt's    LETTER.  14  5 

your  request,  and  herewith  send  such  an  account  as 
I  can,  of  what  the  Lord  has  done  among  us.  But 
herein,  as  I  must  be  very  general,  liaving  never 
made  any  memorandums  in  writing  of  the  Lord's 
work  here,  so  I  trust  I  shall  be  strictly  true,  for  the 
Lord  hates  a  false  witness. 

"  This  place  lies  southwest  from  New  York,  and 
is  distant  from  it  about  fifty  miles.  It  was  the  first, 
in  the  East  Jersey,  on  the  west  side  of  the  Raritan 
River,  which  was  settled  with  a  gospel  ministry. 
This  was  owing,  under  God,  to  the  agency  of  some 
Scotch  people,  that  came  to  it ;  among  whom  there 
was  none  so  painful  in  this  blessed  undertaking,  as 
one  Walter  Ker,  who  in  the  year  lb"85,  for  his  faith- 
ful and  conscientious  adherence  to  God  and  his  truth, 
as  professed  by  the  Church  of  Scotland,  was  there 
apprehended,  and  sent  into  this  country,  under  a 
sentence  of  perpetual  banishment.  By  which  it 
appears,  that  the  devil  and  his  instruments  lost  their 
a  im  in  sending  him  from  home  ;  where  it  is  unlikely 
he  could  ever  have  been  so  serviceable  to  Christ's 
kingdom  as  he  has  been  here.  He  is  yet  alive  ;  and 
blessed  be  God,  he  is  flourishing  in  his  old  age, 
being  in  his  88th  year. 

<•'  But  to  return ;  the  public  means  of  grace  dis- 
pensed  here,  were  at  first,  for  a  season,  too  much 
like  a  miscarrying  womb  and  dry  breasts ;  so  that 
the  major  part  of  the  congregation  could  not  be  said 
to  have  so  much  as  a  name  to  live.     Family  prayer 


1-16  IHK    HKV.   W.M.  TKNNKN'l'  S    l.ET'JEB. 

was  unpractisod  l)y  all,  a  very  few  excepted  ;  igno- 
rance so  overshadowed  their  minds,  that  the  doctrine 
of  the  new  birth  when  clearly  explained  and  pow- 
erfully pressed  upon  them,  as  absolutely  necessary  to 
salvation  (by  that  faithful  preacher  of  God*s  word, 
Mr.  Thcodorus  Jacobus  Frelinghuyscn,  a  Low  Dutch 
minister,  and  some  other  English  ministers  who  were 
occasionally  here,)  was  made  a  common  game  of; 
so  that  not  only  the  preachers,  but  professors  of  that 
truth,  were  called  in  derision  new-born,  and  looked 
upon  as  holders  forth  of  some  new  and  false  doc- 
trine. And,  indeed,  their  practice  was  as  bad  as 
their  principles,  viz.  loose  and  profane. 

"In  the  year  1729,  their  minister  removed  from 
them,  and  they  were  so  grievously  divided  among 
themselves,  that  it  appeared  improbable  they  would 
ever  agree  in  the  settlement  of  another.  In  this 
miserable,  helpless,  and  almost  hopeless  condition, 
they  lay,  and  few  among  them  had  either  eyes  to 
see,  or  hearts  to  bewail  their  woful,  wretched  circum- 
stances. Thus  they  seemed  to  be  cast  out,  as  the 
prophet  Ezekiel  represents  it  in  the  16th  chapter  of 
his  book,  and  the  5th  verse.  But  the  Lord  who  is 
rich  in  mercy,  of  his  unexpected  and  unmerited  love, 
passed  by  them  lying  in  their  blood,  and  said  unto 
many  of  them  since  that  day,  Live  ;  and  live  they 
shall  to  all  eternit5\ 

«  About  this  time,  my  dear  brother  John  (who  is 
now  with   Jesus)  was  licensed  as  a  candidate  for 


THE    REV.    NVM.    TEN'XEXT  S    LETTER.  147 

the  sacred  ministry  :  a  youth,  whom  the  Author  of 
every  good  gift  had  uncommonly  furnished  for  that 
important  trust.  To  him  appUcation  was  made  by 
some  of  the  congregation,  intrcating  that  he  v.rould 
supply  them  for  a  time ;  to  which,  with  the  leave 
of  the  presbytery,  he  consented.  But  ere  he  went, 
he  often  told  me,  that  he  was  heartily  sorry  he  had 
engaged  to  go  among  them ;  for  it  seemed  to  him 
that  they  were  a  people  whom  God  had  given  up 
for  their  abuse  of  the  gospel.  But  the  Lord's 
thoughts  are  not  our  thoughts,  nor  his  ways  our 
ways  ;  for  when  he  had  preached  foiir  or  five  Sab- 
baths in  the  place,  which  was  the  whole  time  he 
tarried  among  them  at  first,  the  Lord  so  blessed  his 
labours,  engaging  people  to  attend  to  the  things 
Avhich  were  spoken,  and  in  stirring  them  up  to 
search  the  scriptures  whether  these  things  were  so 
or  not,  and  withal  enabling  him  to  preach  to  them 
with  such  uncommon  freedom  and  earnestness,  that 
he  told  me  he  was  fully  persuaded  Christ  Jesus  had 
a  large  harvest  to  bring  home  there  ;  so  that,  though 
they  were  a  poor  broken  people,  yet  if  they  called 
him  lie  would  settle  among  them,  albeit  he  should 
be  put  to  beg  his  bread  by  so  doing.  April  the 
15th,  1730,  the  congregation  unanimously  called 
him;  which  he  accepting  of,  was  ordained  the  19th 
of  November  following,  and  continued  with  them 
until  April  23d,  1732,  and  was  then  translated  to 
glory. 


148  THE    HKV.     W.M.    TENNKXT's    I.ETTEn. 

"  During  his  short  time,  his  labours  were  greatly 
blessed ;  so  that  the  place  of  public  worship  was 
usually  crowded  with  people  of  all  ranks  and  orders, 
as  well  as  professions,  that  obtained  in  that  part  of 
the  country,  and  they  seemed  to  hear,  generally,  as 
for  their  lives :  yea,  such  as  were  wont  to  go  to 
those  places  for  their  diversion,  viz.  to  hear  news  or 
speak  to  their  tradesmen,  &c.,  even  on  the  Lord's 
day,  as  they  themselves  have  since  confessed,  were 
taken  in  the  gospel  net.  A  solemn  awe  of  God's 
majesty  possessed  many,  so  that  they  behaved  them- 
selves as  at  his  bar,  while  in  his  house.  Many  tears 
were  usually  shed  when  he  preached,  and  some- 
times the  body  of  the  congregation  was  moved  or 
affected.  I  can  say,  and  let  the  Lord  alone  have  the 
glory  of  it,  that  I  have  seen  both  minister  and  peo- 
ple wet  with  their  tears,  as  with  a  bedewing  rain. 
It  was  no  uncommon  thing  to  see  persons  in  the 
time  of  hearing,  sobbing  as  if  their  hearts  v.'-ould 
break,  but  without  any  public  outcry ;  and  some 
have  been  carried  out  of  the  assembly  (being  over- 
come) as  if  they  had  been  dead. 

"  Religion  was  then  the  general  subject  of  dis- 
course, though  they  did  not  all  approve  of  the  pow- 
er of  it.  The  holy  Bible  was  searched  by  people  on 
both  sides  of  the  question,  and  knowledge  surpriz- 
ingly  increased.  The  terror  of  God  fell  generally 
upon  the  inhabitants  of  this  place  ;  so  that  wicked- 
ness as  ashamed  in  a  great  measure  hid  itself;  frol- 


THE  KEV.  \VM.  TENNENt's  LETTER.      149 

icking,  dancing,  horse-racing,  with  other  profane 
meetings  were  broken  up.  Some  of  the  jolly  com- 
panions of  both  sexes,  were  constrained  by  their 
consciences  to  meet  together,  the  men  by  themselves, 
and  the  women  by  themselves,  to  confess  privately 
their  abominations  before  God,  and  beg  the  pardon 
of  them. 

"Before  my  brother's  death,  by  reason  of  his  bodi- 
ly weakness,  and  inability  on  that  account  to  offici- 
ate publicly,  I  preached  here  about  six  months.  In 
which  time,  many  came  inquiring  what  they  should 
do  to  be  saved,  and  some  to  tell  what  the  Lord  had 
done  for  their  souls.  But  the  blessing  on  his  labours 
to  the  conviction  and  conversion  of  souls,  was  more 
discernible  some  months  after  his  death,  than  any 
time  in  his  life ;  almost  in  every  neighbourliood — I 
cannot  say  in  every  house — there  were  sin-sick  souls, 
longing  for  and  seeking  after  the  dear  physician, 
Jesus  Christ :  several  of  whom,  I  no  ways  doubt 
have,  since  that  time,  sincerely  closed  with  him,  and 
are  healed;  glory,  glory  to  his  holy  name  be  given, 
for  ever  and  ever.  Amen  ! 

"  Sometime  after  my  brother's  decease,  the  con- 
gregation called  me  to  labour  among  them,  statedly  ; 
which  I  accepted,  and  was  ordained,  October  the 
25th,  1733.  Thus  my  Lord  sent  me  to  reap  that  on 
which  I  had  bestowed  but  little  labour.  May  this 
consideration  be  blessed  to  make  me  thankful  and 
humble,  while  I  live. 


150  Till:    HKV.    \V.\I.   TENNEN'l's     LLTTKK. 

"  I  must  further  declare  to  the  honour  of  God 
that  he  has  not  yet  left  us,  ahhough  awfully  pro- 
voked by  our  cryuig  crimes ;  but  ever  since  that 
more  remarkable  outpouring  of  his  Spirit  has  con- 
tinued to  bless  his  own  ordinances,  to  the  convic- 
tion, conversion  and  consolation,  of  precious  souls : 
so  that  every  year,  some,  more  or  less  have  been  in  a 
judgmentof  charity  added  (savingly,)  to  his  mystical 
body  :  to  his  holy  name  be  all  the  glory.  In  the 
mean  time,  I  would  have  it  observed,  that  two  or 
three  years  last  past,  have  afforded  fewer  instances 
of  this  kind,  than  formerly.  However,  through 
grace  some  have  been  lately  awakened  who  are 
even  now  seeking  Jesus  sorrowing.  What  the 
nimiber  is  of  those  who  have  tasted  the  sweet  fruits 
of  the  Redeemer's  purchase  in  a  saving  manner, 
in  this  congregation,  I  cannot  tell :  it  is  my  com- 
fort that  the  Lord  will  reckon  them ;  for  he  knows 
who  are  his:  and  indeed  none  but  the  omniscient 
God  is  equal  to  the  difficult  province  of  determining 
certainly  concerning  the  internal  states  of  men.  Yet 
I  may  be  bold  to  say,  that  to  all  appearance,  both 
old  and  young,  males  and  females,  have  been  re- 
newed ;  though  none  so  young  as  I  have  heard  of 
in  some  other  places.  Same  negroes,  I  trust,  are 
made  free  in  Christ ;  and  more  seem  to  be  unfeign- 
edly  seeking  after  it.  But  after  all  that  the  Lord 
has  been  pleased  to  do  among  us,  I  am  persuaded 
that  the  greater  number,  by  far,  arc  yet  in  the  gall 


THi;    REV.    \VM.    TENNENT's    LETTER.  1.51 

of  bitterness  and  bond  of  iniquity  This  makes  me 
sometimes  ready  to  wish,  that  I  had  in  the  wilder- 
ness the  lodging-place  of  a  wayfaring-man,  that  I 
might  leave  my  people  and  go  from  them;  or  rather 
that  my  head  were  waters,  and  mhie  eyes  a  foun- 
tain of  tears,  that  I  might  weep  day  and  night  for 
them !  Such  as  have  been  converted  were  every 
one  of  them  prepared  for  it  by  a  sharp  law-work  of 
conviction,  discovering  to  them  in  a  heart-affecting 
manner,  their  sinfulness  both  by  nature  and  prac- 
tise, as  well  as  their  liableness  to  damnation  for 
their  original  and  actual  transgressions.  Neither 
could  they  see  any  way  in  themselves  by  which 
they  could  escape  the  divine  vengeance ;  for  that 
their  whole  life  past,  was  not  only  a  continued 
act  of  rebellion  against  God,  but  their  present  en- 
deavours to  better  it,  such  as  prayers,  &c.  were  so 
imperfect,  that  they  could  not  endure  them,  and 
much  less,  they  concluded,  would  a  holy  God.  They 
all  confessed  the  justice  of  God  in  their  eternal  per- 
dition ;  and  thus  have  been  shut  up  to  the  blessed 
necessity  of  seeking  relief  by  faith  in  Christ  alone. 
It  would  be  endless  to  mention  the  evils  they  com- 
plained of;  viz.  ignorance,  unbelief,  hardness  of 
heart,  hatred  against  God,  his  laws,  and  people 
worldliness,  wandering  of  heart  in  duty,  pride,  sen- 
suality, sloth,  &c.  With  what  grief,  shame  and  self- 
loathing  have  I  heard  them  bewail  their  loss  of  time, 
nnd  neglect  of  the  great  gospel  salvation.     Thos« 


152  Tin:     JtKW    WM.     IKNNKNT  S    LKT'IKU. 

that  were  communicants  before  their  awakening, 
have  with  trembhng  declared  that  their  unworthy 
partaking  grieved  them  more  than  anything  ever 
they  did  ;  for  hereby  they  had  as  it  were  murdered 
the  Lord.  It  is  ahnost  incredible  to  relate,  the  in- 
dignation that  such  awakened  sinners  expressed 
against  tliemselves,  on  the  account  of  their  sinful- 
ness. They  looked  upon  themselves  to  be  mere 
monsters  of  nature,  and  that  none  were  worse  if  any 
so  bad.  Others  signified  that  they  could  not  find 
their  pictures  out  of  hell,  and  that  they  were  just  fit 
companions  for  the  damned,  and  none  else.  Let  it 
be  here  noted,  that  some  who  have  expressed  them- 
selves in  the  manner  I  have  mentioned,  were  before 
taken  for  believers  both  by  themselves  and  others, 
being  sober  and  regular  in  their  walk. 

"The  sorrows  of  the  convinced,  were  not  all  alike, 
either  in  degree  or  continuance.  Some  have  not 
thought  it  possible  for  them  to  be  saved,  if  God 
would  vindicate  the  honour  of  his  justice ;  but 
these  thoughts  continued  not  long  at  a  time,  blessed 
be  God.  Others  thought  it  was  possible,  but  not 
very  probable,  because  of  their  vileness.  The 
greatest  degree  of  hope  which  any  had,  under  a 
conviction  that  issued  well,  was  a  maybe  ;  '  perad- 
venture,  or  maybe,  God  will  have  mercy  on  me,' 
said  the  sinner.  Some,  in  coming  to  Jesus,  have 
been  much  rent  with  blasphemous  and  other  horri- 
ble temptations,  which  have  turned  their  moisture 


THE  KEV.  VVM.  TENNENT's  LETTER.     153 

into  the  drought  of  summer ;  who  now  through 
pure  grace  serve  God,  without  such  distractions,  in 
gladness  and  singleness  of  heart.  The  conviction  of 
some  has  been  instantaneous ;  by  the  Holy  Spirit's 
applying  the  law  to  the  conscience,  and  discovering 
to  the  eye  of  the  understanding,  as  it  were,  all  their 
heart  deceits  very  speedily  ;  by  which  they  have 
been  stabbed  as  with  a  sword.  But  the  conviction 
of  others,  has  been  in  a  more  progressive  way. 
They  have  had  discovered  to  them,  one  abomination 
after  another,  in  life ;  and  from  thence  were  led  to 
behold  the  fountain  of  all  corruption  in  the  heart ; 
and  thus  they  were  constrained  to  despair  of  life  by 
the  law,  and  consequently  to  flee  to  Jesus  as  the 
only  door  of  hope,  and  so  rest  entirely  on  his  merit 
for  salvation. 

<'  After  the  aforesaid  sorrowful  exercises,  such  as 
were  reconciled  to  God  have  been  blessed  with  the 
Spirit  of  adoption,  enabhng  them  to  cry,  Abba,  Fa- 
ther. But  some  have  had  greater  degrees  of  conso- 
lation than  others,  in  proportion  to  the  clearness  of 
the  evidences  of  their  sonship.  The  Lord  has 
drawn  some  out  of  the  horrible  pit  of  distress  and 
darkness,  and  brought  them  into  the  light  of  his 
countenance.  He  has  filled  their  hearts  with  joy, 
and  their  mouths  with  praises ;  j'ca,  given  them  the 
full  assurance  of  faith.  Others  have  been  brought 
to  peace  in  believing ;  but  have  not  had  so  great  a 

pkrophory  of  joy ;  yet  they  go  on  in  a  religious 

K 


I5l     THK  RF.V.  U  M.  TK.NN  KNT 's  LKTIKR. 

course,  tiusling  in  the  Lord.  The  way  Ihcy  have 
been  comforted  is  cillier  by  the  application  of  some 
particular  promise  of  holy  scripture,  or  by  a  soul- 
aflccting  view  of  the  "way  of  salvation  by  Christ,  as 
free,  without  money  and  without  price.  They  were 
enabled  to  behold  the  valuable  mercies  of  the  cov- 
enant of  grace,  freely  tendered  to  the  vilest  trans- 
gressors, that  were  poor  in  their  own  eyes,  sin-sick, 
weary  and  wounded,  together  with  the  ability  and 
willingness  of  the  Lord  Jesus  to  relieve  them  from 
all  the  evils,  they  cither  feared  or  felt.  "With  this 
way  of  salvation  their  souls  were  well  pleased,  and 
thereupon,  have  ventured  their  case  into  his  hands, 
expecting  help  from  him  only  ;  who  has  given  them 
both  peace  and  rest ;  yea,  filled  some  of  them  with 
joy  unspeakable  and  full  of  glory.  I  remember  not 
of  any  that  received  their  first  comforts  otherwise. 
Some  few  have  retained  their  confidence  in  God 
ever  since,  without  any  considerable  questionings  of 
their  state,  although  they  have  not  always  tasted 
the  comforts  of  it.  But  the  most,  by  far,  have  ques- 
tioned all,  and  doubted  it  was  a  delusion.  This  I  sup- 
pose is  generally  owing  to  the  remains  of  corruption, 
which  blot  the  evidences  of  grace  in  good  men,  so 
that  they  can  hardly  read  them;  and  particularly,  to 
the  awful  sin  of  unbelief;  together  with  the  preva- 
lence of  a  legal  spirit,  which  presses  them  to  perfect 
holiness  on  pain  of  death,  and  because  they  cannot 


THE  REV.  WM,  TEKNENt's  LETTER.     155 

obtain  that,  they  conclude  they  are  unsanctified, 
and  have  no  right  to  Christ.  I  might  add  the  ig- 
norance of  mortification  ;  they  seem  to  think  that  in 
the  justified,  sin  is  killed  in  its  being,  as  m^cH  as  gov- 
erning power  ;  and,  therefore,  because  they  feel  their 
old  sins  sometimes  stirring  in  them,  they  conclude 
that  all  is  wrong  ;  nay,  although  they  hate  the  doc- 
trine of  perfection  as  held  by  some,  yet  because 
they  are  not  perfect  they  think  they  have  no  grace- 
But  hov^^evcr  distressing  it  is  to  them  to  feel  their 
imperfections,  it  helps  to  persuade  me  that  they  are 
regenerate  ;  else  it  would  not  be  so  ;  sin  would  not 
be  their  chief  burden,  in  a  general  way. 

"  However,  our  Lord  who  comforts  those  that  are 
cast  down,  even  the  wonderful  Counsellor,  teaches 
them,  that  he  not  only  saves  those  who  have  been 
sinners  before  convertiion,  but  even  such  as  after  it, 
find  a  law  in  their  members  warring  against  the  law 
of  their  minds,  which  too  often  causes  them  to  do 
the  things  they  would  not ;  and  enables  ihcm  to  re- 
flect upon  what  they  have  and  do  daily  experience, 
and  compare  it  with  the  evidences  of  grace  in  the 
word  of  God.  The  blessed  God  does  likewise  give 
them  renewed  tastes  of  liis  love,  even  after  mis- 
steps ;  and  thus  they  are  established  in  faith  and 
hope,  so  that  they  have  a  prevailing  persuasion  of 
their  interest  in  Christ ;  except  it  be  in  times  of  de- 
sertion and  temptation,  with  which  some  are  more 
K3 


156     THE  REV.  WM.  TENNENT's  LETTER. 

exercised  than  olher?,  for  reasons  best  known  to  ri 
sovereign  God. 

"Doubtless,  Sir, you  v/ill  desire  to  know,  what  ef- 
fects this  work  produces  on  the  minds  and  manners  of 
its  subjects.  I  ansv/cr,  they  are  not  only  made  to 
know,  but  heartily  to  approve  of  the  great  doctrines  of 
the  gospel,  which  they  were  before  either  ignorant  of 
or  averse  to,  (at  least  some  of  them)  so  that  they  do 
harmonize  sweetly  in  exalting  free,  special,  and  sov- 
ereign grace,  through  the  Redeemer  Jesus  Christ ; 
being  willing  to  glory  only  in  the  Lord,  who  has 
loved  them  and  given  himself  for  them,  an  offering 
and  a  sacrifice  of  a  sweet-smelling  savour. 

"  I  cannot  express,  with  what  satisfaction  I  have 
heard  them  speak  of  the  new  covenant  method  of  sal- 
vation. They  have  spoken  with  such  affection  and 
clearness,  as  I  have  thought  was  sufficient  to  convince 
an  atheist,  that  the  Lord  was  their  Teacher.  The  alte- 
ration in  some,  from  almost  gross  ignorance  to  such 
clear  gospel  light,  and  in  others  from  such  corrupt 
principles,  as  the  Papists  and  Quakers  hold,  to  the 
believing  acknowledgment  of  the  truth,  none  but  he 
that  made  the  understanding  could  effect.  They 
approve  of  the  law  of  God  after  the  inward  man,  as 
holy,  just,  and  good,  and  prize  it  above  gold,  yea, 
much  fine  gold.  They  judge  it  their  duty  as  well 
as  privilege  to  wait  on  God  in  all  the  ordinances  of 
his  own  institution,  although  they  expect  to  merit 
nothing  thereby.     A  reverence  for  God's  command- 


THE    REV.    WM.    TENNENT's    LETTEK.  157 

ing  authority,  and  gratitude  for  his  love,  conspire  to 
incite  and  constrain  them,  to  a  willing,  unfeigned, 
universal  and  unfainting  obedience  to  his  laws  :  yet 
they  declare  that  in  everything  they  come  sadly  short 
of  what  they  ought  to  do,  and  bitterly  bewail  their  de- 
fects. But  blessed  be  God,  they  are  not  discouraged 
in  their  endeavours  to  reach  forward,  if  by  any 
means  they  may  apprehend  that  for  which  they  are 
apprehended  of  God  ;  and  in  all  things  they  ac- 
knowledge that  they  ought  to  look  to  Jesus  as  the 
author  and  finisher  of  faith,  whose  alone  it  is  to 
work  all  good  in  them  and  for  them,  to  whom  be 
glory  for  ever.  They  are  not  unmolested  in  their 
way  by  enemies,  both  from  within  and  from  with- 
out. Yet,  they  profess  that  the  comforts  which  they 
receive  do  more  than  compensate  all  their  labour, 
were  there  no  good  to  be  expected  hereafter :  and 
surely,  as  the  psalmist  observes,  'in  keeping  God's 
commands  there  is  a  great  reward.'  But  to  proceed  : 
"  They  have  not  all  made  alike  proficiency  in  the 
Christian  course ;  neither  are  thoy  all  equal  in  reli- 
gious endeavours  ;  nor  any  at  all  times  alike  lively. 
They  are  sometimes  obstructed  in  their  religious 
progress  by  coldness  and  deadness ;  but  this  the 
blessed  Jesus  removes  at  times,  by  the  influence  of 
his  Holy  Spirit ;  then,  0  then,  their  hearts  are  en- 
larged, and  they  run  the  sweet  way  of  God's  com- 
mandments with    alacrity  and  delight,  they    love 

all  such  as  they  have  reason  to  think,  from  their 
K3 


158        riiii   ntv.   wm.  ten.nent's  LETrnn. 

principles,  experience,  and  practice,  are  Inily  godly, 
though  they  differ  from  them  in  sentiment  in  lesser 
things,  and  look  on  them  to  be  the  excellent  of  the 
cartii.  They  rejoice  in  Zion's  prosperity  ;  glorify- 
ing God  on  that  account,  and  feel  a  sympathy  in  her 
sorrows.  Tliey  do  prefer  one  anmher  before  them- 
selv^es,  in  love  ;  except,  imder  temptation,  which 
they  are  ready  to  confess  and  bewail,  when  they  are 
tliemselves  ;  generally  accounting  that  they  are  the 
meanest  of  the  family  of  God,  and  unworthy  of  the 
blessing ;  yea,  the  most  so  of  any  living,  all  things 
considered.  In  a  word,  the  sapless  formalist  is  be- 
come spiritual  in  his  conversation  ;  the  proud  and 
haughty  are  made  humble  and  affable  ;  the  wanton 
and  vile,  sober  and  temperate  ;  the  swearer  honours 
that  venerable  name  he  was  Avont  to  profane,  and 
blesses,  instead  of  cursing ;  the  Sabbath-breaker  is 
brought  to  be  a  strict  observer  of  holy  time  ;  the 
worldling  nov/ seeks  treasures  in  the  heavens;  the 
extortioner  now  deals  justly  ;  and  the  formerly  ma- 
licious, forgive  injuries ;  the  prayerless  are  earnest 
and  incessant  in  acts  of  devotion  ;  and  the  sneaking 
self-seeker,  endeavours  the  advancement  of  God's 
glory,  and  the  salvation  of  immortal  souls. 

"  Through  God's  mercy  we  have  been  quite  free 
from  enthusiasm ;  our  people  have  followed  the 
holy  law  of  God,  the  sure  word  of  prophecy,  and  not 
the  impulses  of  their  own  minds.  There  have  not 
been  that  I  know  of,  among  us,  any  visions,  except 


THE    UEV.    \VM.    TEXNENt's    LETTER.  159 

such  as  are  by  faith,  namely,  clear  and  affecting 
views  of  the  new  and  living  way  to  the  Father 
through  his  dear  Son  Jesus  Christ :  nor  any  revela- 
tions but  what  have  been  long  since  written  in  the 
sacred  volume  :  nor  any  trances  but  such  as  all  men 
noAV  living  shall  meet  with,  for  it  is  appointed  for 
ail  men  once  to  die, 

"  It  may  not  be  amiss  to  inform  you,  that  many 
who  have  been  awakened,  and  seemed  for  a  time  to 
set  out  for  Zion,  are  turned  back.  Yea,  of  those 
who  have  been  esteemed  converts,  some  have  made 
shipwreck  of  faith  and  a  good  conscience  ;  though, 
glory  to  God,  there  have  not  been  many  such ;  yet 
some  of  them  who  liave  thus  awfully  apostatized 
were  highly  esteemed  in  the  church.  By  this,  our 
good  and  gracious  God  has  given  check  to  too  high 
an  esteem  of  our  owu  judgment,  concerning  the  spi- 
ritual states  of  others,  (an  evil  which  is  too  common 
among  young  converts)  and  awfully  warned  all  that 
stand,  to  take  heed  lest  they  fall.  Many,  I  have 
cause  to  fear,  have  been  hardened  in  their  impieties 
and  unreasonable  prejudices  against  vital  religion, 
by  the  backslidings  of  some  professors.  ^  Wo  to  the 
world,  because  of  offences!'  But  in  the  mean  time, 
blessed  be  God,  Wisdom  is  and  will  l)e  justified  of 
her  children. 

"  This,  Sir,  is  as  particular  an  account,  as  I  can  at 
present  give  of  the  Lord's  work,  in  this  place.  If 
my  Lord  will  accept  it  as  a  testimony  for  him,  it 


160  THE     REV.     \VM.    TEN.VENT  3    LKTTER. 

will  be  a  greater  honour  than  ever  1  deserved.  I 
need  your  prayers,  and  earnestly  desire  them.  0 
beg  of  God,  that  I  may  be  faithful  to  the  death,  and 
wise  to  win  souls.  I  am  with  all  due  respects, 
yours  in  the  dearest  Jesus, 

WM.  TEXNENT." 

"ATTESTATION  io  theprcccding  Jlcccmnt  hy  the 

Ruling  Elders  and  Deacons  of  the   Congrega- 

Hon  of  Freehold. 

"  We  the  subscribers.  Ruling  Elders  and  Deacons 
of  the  Presbyterian  congregation  of  Freehold,  hav- 
ing had  perfect  knowledge  of  the  circumstances  of 
this  place,  some  of  us  from  the  first  settling  of  it, 
and  others  of  a  long  time,  do  give  our  testimony  to 
the  truth  in  general,  of  the  above  letter  of  our  Rev. 
pastor.  May  the  Lord  make  the  same  of  use  for 
the  carrying  on  his  glorious  work  begun  in  these 
lands,  and  make  the  name  of  the  dearest  Jesus  glo- 
rious from  the  rising  to  the  setting  sun. 

Walter  Ker,         Robert  Gumming, 
David  Rhea,  John  Henderson, 

William  Ker,       Samuel  Ker. 

Freehold,  in  New  Jersey,  October  11th,  1744." 


CHAPTER  X. 

MEMOIR   OF   THE    REV.   WILLIAM    TEN- 
NENT,  JR. 

Preliminary  Remarks — Mr.  Tennent's  birth  and  education — sickness,, 
apparent  death,  and  recovery — Slate  of  his  mind  during  his  trance 
—  Settlement  and  ordination  as  successor  to  iiis  brother  at  Free- 
hold— Marringe — Character  as  a  pastor  and  success  in  the  ministry 
— Trial  for  Perjury — Extraordinary  means  of  deliverance — The 
close  of  life. 

The  following  memoir  of  the  Rev.  William  Ten- 
nent, jr.,  was  originally  published  in  "The  Assem- 
bly's Missionary  Magazine,"  in  the  year  1806'; 
and  although  it  was  not  accompanied  with  the  au- 
thor's name,  it  was  well  miderstood  to  be  from  the 
pen  of  the  Hon.  Elias  Boudinot,  LL.D.,  who  was 
particularly  acquainted  with  all  the  members  of  this 
remarkable  family.  But  although  Ur.  Boudinot 
prepared  this  memoir  for  the  })ress,  the  greater  part 
of  the  narrative  was  written,  at  his  request,  by  the 
late  Dr.  Henderson,  of  Freehold,  one  of  the  elders  of 
the  Freehold  church,  and  a  man  distinguished  for 
lii.s  piety,  integrity,  veracity,  and  patriotism.  This 
original  manuscript  is  now  in  the  possession  of  the 
compiler  of  this  volume.     From  it  we  learn,  that 


163  THE    RKV.    WM.    TENNEST,    JIl. 

the  history  of  Mr.  Tennent's  trial,  which  occurred 
soon  after  his  settlement  in  the  ministry,  and  when 
Dr.  Henderson  was  too  young  to  be  a  competent 
witness,  was  received  from  his  father,  who  was 
then  an  elder  in  the  church  of  Freehold,  of  which 
Mr.  William  Tennent  was  the  pastor.  There 
can  be  no  doubt  about  the  authenticity  of  the 
facts  here  stated,  however  they  may  be  accounted 
for.  The  writer  has  heard  the  same  facts  from 
.elderly  persons,  who  never  had  seen  this  published 
account ;  and  they  were  so  public,  that  they  were 
generally  known,  not  only  to  the  people  of  this 
part  of  the  country,  but  they  were  currently  re- 
ported and  fully  believed,  in  other  states.  The 
writer  has  heard  them,  familiarly  talked  of  in  Vir* 
ginia,  from  his  childhood.  It  is  a  matter  of  some 
regret  that  the  record  of  this  trial  cannot  be  found, 
yet  papers  have  been  discovered  among  the  archives 
of  the  state,  in  which  reference  is  made  to  this  trans- 
action.    The  following  is  the  narrative. 

"  Among  the  duties  which  every  generation  owes 
to  those  who  are  to  succeed  it,  we  may  reckon  the 
careful  delineation  of  the  characters  of  those  whose 
example  deserves,  and  may  invite  imitation.  Ex- 
ample speaks  louder  than  precept,  and  living  practi- 
cal religion  has  a  much  greater  efiect  on  mankind 
than  argument  or  eloquence.  Hence,  the  lives  of 
pious  men  become  the  most  important  sources  of  in- 
struction and  warning  to  posterity  ;  while  their  ex- 


THE    REV.    WM.    TENNENT,    JR.  16  3 

emplary  conduct  affords  the  best  commentary  on  the 
rehgioii  they  professed.  But  when  such  men  have 
been  remarkably  favoured  of  God,  with  unusual  de- 
grees of  light  and  knowledge,  and  have  been  ho- 
noured by  the  special  and  extraordinary  influences 
of  his  Holy  Spirit,  and  by  the  most  manifest  and 
wonderful  interpositions  of  divine  Providence  in  their 
behalf,  it  becomes  a  duty  of  more  than  common 
obligation,  to  hand  down  to  posterity  the  principal 
events  of  their  lives,  together  with  such  useful  infer- 
ences as  they  natm-ally  suggest.  A  neglect  of  this 
duty,  even  by  persons  who  may  be  conscious  of  the 
want  of  abilities  necessary  for  the  complete  biogra- 
pher, is  greatly  culpable  ;  for,  if  the  strictest  attention 
be  paid  to  the  truth  of  the  facts  related,  and  all  exag- 
geration or  partial  representation  be  carefully  avoid- 
ed, the  want  of  other  furniture  can  be  no  excuse  for 
burying  in  oblivion  that  conduct  which,  if  known, 
might  edify  and  benefit  the  world. 

"  The  writer  of  these  memoirs  has  difficulties  of  a 
peculiar  kind  to  encounter,  in  attempting  to  sketch 
the  life  of  that  modest,  humble,  and  worthy  man, 
whose  actions,  exercises,  and  sentiments  he  wishes 
to  record.  Worldly  men,  who  are  emulous  to  trans- 
mit their  names  to  following  ages,  take  care  to  leave 
such  materials  for  the  future  historian,  as  may  secure 
the  celebrity  which  they  seek.  But  the  humble  fol- 
lower of  the  meek  and  lowly  Jesus,  whose  sole  aim 
IS  the  glory  of  God,  in  the  welfare  of  immortal  souls* 


164  THK  Ri:v.   wm.  thnnknt,  jr. 

goes  on,  from  day  to  day,  as  seeing  Him  who  is  in- 
visible, careful  to  approve  himself  only  to  the 
Searcher  of  hearts,  regardless  of  worldly  fame  or  dis- 
tinction, and  leaving  it  to  liis  heavenly  Father  to 
reward  him  openly,  in  the  day  of  final  account. 
The  writer  of  such  a  man's  life,  must  principally 
rely  on  a  personal  acquaintance  with  him,  and  the 
communications  of  his  intimate  friends,  for  the  in- 
formation which  shall  be  imparted  to  the  public.  lu 
these  circumstances  it  is  peculiarly  embarrassing,  if 
some  of  the  facts  to  be  recorded  are  of  such  a  nature, 
that  it  is  most  desirable  to  have  their  authenticity  so 
fully  established, that  incredulity  shall  be  confounded, 
and  the  sneer  of  the  sceptical  and  profane  lose  its 
effect.  13ut  the  writer  of  the  following  narrative, 
though  placed  in  these  circumstances,  and  having 
such  facts  to  detail,  has  nevertheless  determined  to 
proceed.  He  has  refreshed  and  corrected  his  own 
recollection,  by  the  most  careful  inquiries  that  he 
could  possibly  make  of  others,  until  he  is  well  as- 
sured, that  what  he  shall  state  is  incontestable  truth. 
From  the  very  nature  of  several  things  of  which  an 
account  will  be  given,  they  do  not  indeed  admit  of 
any  other  direct  testimony  than  that  of  the  remarka- 
able  man  to  whom  they  relate.  But  if  there  ever 
was  a  person  who  deserved  to  be  believed  unre- 
servedly on  his  own  word,  it  was  he.  He  possessed 
an  integrity  of  soul  and  a  soundness  of  judgment, 
which  did  actually  secure  him  an  unlimited  confi- 


THK    UEV.    WM.    TENNENT,    JR.  1G5 

dence  from  all  who  knew  him.  Every  species  of 
deception,  falsehood,  and  exaggeration  he  abhorred 
and  scorned.  He  was  an  Israelite  indeed,  in  whom 
there  was  no  guile.  With  such  materials,  then,  as 
Iiave  been  mentioned,  and  for  a  work  of  such  charac- 
ter as  has  been  hinted,  the  writer  has  undertaken  his 
task.  He  has  undertaken  what  he  would  most 
gladly  have  resigned  to  an  abler  hand ;  but  from 
which,  as  no  other  offered,  he  dared  not  withhold  his 
own.  He  could  wish  that  speculatix'c  and  even  un- 
believing minds  might  be  instructed  and  convinced 
by  these  memoirs.  But  his  principal  object,  and 
that  in  which  lie  trusts  he  shall  not  be  entirely  dis- 
appointed, is  to  direct,  assist,  and  comfort  pious  souls, 
groaning  under  the  pressure  of  the  calamities  which 
they  often  have  to  endure  in  their  pilgrimage  through 
the  wilderness  of  this  world." 

"  The  Rev.  Wm.  Tennent,  of  Freehold,  New  Jer- 
sey, was  the  second  son  of  the  Rev.  Wm,  Tennenf, 
sen.,  and  was  born  on  the  3d  day  of  June,  1705, 
in  the  county  of  Armagh,  in  Ireland,  and  was  just 
tinned  of  thirteen  years  when  he  arrived  in  America. 
He  applied  himself  with  much  zeal  and  industry  to 
his  studies,  and  made  great  proficiency  in  the  lan- 
guages, particularly  in  the  Latin.  Being  early  im- 
pressed with  a  deep  sense  of  divine  things,  he  soon 
determined  to  follow  the  example  of  his  father  and 
elder  brother,  by  devoting  himself  to  the  service  of 
God  in  the  ministry  of  the  gospel.     His  brother  Gil- 


166  THE     ){EV.    WM.    TENNKNT,    Jit. 

bert  being  called  to  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  church 
at  New  Brunswick,  in  New  Jersey,  and  making  a 
very  considerable  figure  as  a  useful  and  popular 
preacher,  William  determined,  as  he  had  completed 
his  course  in  the  languages,  to  study  divinity  under 
his  brother.  Accordingly,  he  left  his  father's  house, 
with  his  consent,  and  by  his  advice,  and  went  to 
New  Brunswick.  At  his  departure  from  home, 
■which  was  considered  as  his  setting  out  in  life,  his 
father  addressed  him  with  great  affection,  commend- 
ing him  to  the  favour  and  protection  of  that  God, 
from  whom  he  himself  had  received  so  much  mercy^ 
and  who  had  directed  him  in  all  his  migrations.  He 
gave  him  a  small  sum  of  money,  as  the  amount  of 
all  he  could  do  for  him,  telling  him  that  if  he  behaved 
well  and  did  his  duty,  this  was  an  ample  provision 
for  him ;  and  if  he  should  act  otherwise,  and  prove 
ungrateful  to  a  kind  and  gracious  God,  it  was  too 
much  and  more  than  he  deserved.  Thus,  with  a  pit- 
tance, and  the  blessing  of  a  pious  and  affectionate 
parent,  of  more  consequence  than  thousands  of 
pounds,  the  young  student  set  out  in  the  world. 

"  After  a  regular  course  of  study  in  theology,  Mr. 
Tennent  was  preparing  for  his  examination  by  the 
presbytery  as  a  candidate  for  the  gospel  ministry. 
His  intense  application  affected  his  health,  and 
brought  on  a  pain  in  his  breast,  and  a  slight  hectic. 
He  soon  became  emaciated,  and  at  length  was  like  a 
living  skeleton.     His  life  was  now  threatened.     He 


THE    REV.    \VM.    TEXXENT,    JR.  167 

was  attended  by  a  physician,  a  young  gentleman 
who  was  attached  to  him  by  the  strictest  and  warm- 
est friendship.     He  grew  worse  and  worse,  till  little 
hope  of  life  was  left.     In  this  situation,  his  spirits 
failed  him,  and  he  began  to  entertain  doubts  of  his 
final  happiness.     He  was  conversing,  one  morning, 
with  his  brother,  in  Latin,  on  the  state  of  his  soul 
when  he  fainted  and  died  away.     After  the  usual 
time,  he  was  laid  out  on  a  board,  according  to  the 
common  practice  of  the  country,  and  the  neighbour- 
hood were  invited  to  attend  his  funeral  on  the  next 
day.     In  the  evening,  his  physician  and  friend  re- 
turned from  a  ride  in  the  country,  and  was  afflicted 
beyond  measure  at  the  news  of  his  death.     He  could 
not  be  persuaded  that  it  was  certain ;  and  on  being 
told  that  one  of  the  persons  who  had  assisted  in  lay- 
ing out  the  body  thought  he  had  observed  a  little 
tremor  of  the  flesh  under  the  arm,  although  the  body 
was  cold  and  stiff,  he  endeavoured  to  ascertain  the 
fact.     He  first  put  his  own  hand  into  warm  water,  to 
make  it  as  sensible  as  possible,  and  then  felt  under 
the  arm,  and  at  the  heart,  and  affirmed  that  he  felt 
an  unusual  warmth,  though  no  one  else  could.     He 
had  the  body  restored  to  a  warm  bed,  and  insisted 
that  the  people  who  had  been  invited  to  the  funeral 
should  be  requested  not  to  attend.     To  this  the  bro- 
ther objected  as  absurd,  the  eyes  being  sunk,  the 
lips  discoloured,  and  the  whole  body  cold  and  stiff. 
However,  the  doctor  finally  prevailed  :  and  all  pro- 


168  TUE    IU:V.    W.M.    TKNNENT,    Jll. 

bable  means  were  used  to  discover  symptoms  ol  re- 
turning lifo.  But  tlic  third  day  arrived,  and  nu 
hopes  were  entertained  of  success,  but  by  the  doctor, 
who  never  left  him  night  nor  day.  The  people  were 
again  invited,  and  assembled  to  attend  the  funeral- 
The  doctor  still  objected,  and  at  last  confined  his  re- 
quest for  delay  to  one  hour,  then  to  half  an  hour, 
and  finally  to  a  quarter  of  an  hour.  He  had  disco- 
vered that  the  tongue  was  much  swollen,  and  threat- 
ened to  crack.  lie  was  endeavouring  to  soften  it, 
by  some  emollient  ointment  put  upon  it  with  a 
feather,  when  the  brother  came  in,  about  the  expira- 
tion of  the  last  period,  and  mistaking  what  the  doc- 
tor was  doing  for  an  attempt  to  feed  him,  manifest- 
ed some  resentment,  and  in  a  spirited  tone,  said, '  It 
is  shameful  to  be  feeding  a  lifeless  corpse  ;'  and  in- 
sisted, with  earnestness,  that  the  funeral  should  im- 
mediately proceed.  At  this  critical  and  important 
moment,  the  body,  to  the  great  alarm  and  astonish- 
ment of  all  present,  opened  its  eyes,  gave  a  dreadful 
groan,  and  sunk  again  into  apparent  death.  This 
put  an  end  to  all  thoughts  of  burying  him,  and 
every  effort  was  again  employed  in  hopes  of  bring- 
ing about  a  speedy  resuscitation.  In  about  an  hour, 
the  eyes  again  opened,  a  heavy  groan  proceeded 
from  the  body,  and  again  all  appearance  of  anima- 
tion vanished.  In  another  hour,  life  seemed  to 
return  with  more  power,  and  a  complete  revival 
took  place,  to  the  great  joy  of  the  family  and  friends, 


THE    REV.    WM.    TENNENT,    JU.  169 

and  to  the  no  small  astonishment  and  conviction  of 
verv  many  who  had  been  ridiculing  the  idea  of 
restoring  to  life,  a  dead  body. 

"Mr,  Tennent  continued  in  so  weak  and  low  a 
state  for  six  weeks,  that  great  doubts  were  enter- 
tained of  his  final  recovery.  However,  after  that 
period  he  recovered  much  faster,  but  it  was  about 
twelve  months  before  he  was  completely  restored. 
After  he  was  able  to  walk  the  room,  and  to  take 
notice  of  what  passed  around  him,  on  a  Sunday 
afternoon,  his  sister,  who  had  staid  from  church  to 
attend  him,  was  reading  in  the  Bible,  when  he  took 
notice  of  it,  and  asked  her  what  she  had  in  her  hand. 
She  answered  that  she  was  reading  the  Bible.  He 
replied, '  What  is  the  Bible  ?  I  know  not  what  you 
mean.'  Tiiis  afiected  the  sister  so  much  that  she 
burst  into  tears,  and  informed  him,  that  he  was  once 
well  acquainted  with  it.  On  her  reporting  this  to 
the  brother,  when  he  returned,  Mr.  Tennent  was 
found,  upon  examination,  to  be  totally  ignorant  of 
every  transaction  of  his  life  previous  to  his  sickness. 
He  could  not  read  a  single  word,  neither  did  he 
seem  to  have  any  idea  of  what  it  meant.  As  soon 
as  he  became  capable  of  attention,  he  was  taught  to 
read  and  write,  as  children  are  usually  taught,  and 
afterwards  began  to  learn  the  I^atin  language  under 
the  tuition  of  his  brother.  One  daj",  as  he  was 
reciting  a  lesson  in  Cornelius  Nepos,  he  suddenly 
started,  clapped  his  hand  to  his  head,  as  if  something 


170  THE    Ri:V.     VVM.    TKNNKNT,    JR. 

had  hurt  him,  and  made  a  pause.  His  brother  ask- 
ing him  what  was  the  matter,  he  said,  that  he  felt  a 
sudden  shock  in  his  head,  and  it^now  seemed  to 
him  as  if  he  had  read  that  book  before.  By  degrees, 
his  recollection  was  restored,  and  he  could  speak  the 
Latin  as  fluently  as  before  his  sickness.  His  memory 
so  completely  revived,  that  he  gained  a  perfect 
knowledge  of  the  past  transactions  of  his  life,  as  if  no 
difficulty  had  previously  occurred.  This  event,  at 
the  time,  made  a  considerable  noise,  and  afforded, 
not  only  matter  of  serious  contemplation  to  the  de- 
vout Christian,  especially  when  connected  with  what 
follows  in  this  narration,  but  furnished  a  subject  of 
deep  investigation  and  learned  inquiry  to  the  real 
philosopher  and  curious  anatomist. 

"  The  writer  of  these  memoirs  was  greatly  inte- 
rested by  these  uncommon  events  ;  and,  on  a  favour- 
able occasion,  earnestly  pressed  ]Mr.  Tenncnt  for  a 
minute  account  of  what  his  views  and  apprehensions 
were,  while  he  lay  in  this  extraordinary  state  of  sus- 
pended animation.  Pie  discovered  great  reluctance 
to  enter  into  any  explanation  of  his  perceptions  and 
feelings,  at  this  time  ;  but,  being  importunately  urged 
to  do  it,  he  at  length  consented,  and  proceeded  with 
a  solemnity  not  to  be  described. 

" '  While  I  was  conversing  with  my  brother,'  said 
he, '  on  the  state  of  my  soul,  and  the  fears  I  had  en- 
tertained for  my  future  welfare,  I  found  myself,  in 
an  instant,  in  another  state  of  existence,  under  the 


THE    REV.    \VM.    TENXEXT,    JR.  171 

direction  of  a  superior  being,  who  ordered  me  to 
follow  him.  I  was  accordingly  wafted  along,  I 
know  not  how,  till  I  beheld  at  a  distance  an  ineffable 
glory,  the  impression  of  which  on  my  mind  it  is  im- 
possible to  communicate  to  mortal  man.  I  imme- 
diately reflected  on  my  happy  change,  and  thought, 
— Well,  blessed  be  God!  I  am  safe  at  last,  notwith- 
standing all  my  fears,  I  sav/  an  innumerable  host 
of  happy  beings,  surrounding  the  inexpressible  glory, 
in  acts  of  adoration  and  joyous  worship  ;  but  I  did 
not  see  any  bodily  shape  or  representation  in  the 
glorious  appearance.  I  heard  things  unutterable.  I 
heard  their  songs  and  hallelujahs  of  thanksgiving 
and  praise,  with  unspeakable  rapture.  I  felt  joy 
unutterable  and  full  of  glory.  I  then  applied  to  my 
conductor,  and  requested  leave  to  join  the  happy 
throng.  On  which  he  tapped  me  on  the  shoulder, 
and  said,  '  You  must  return  to  the  earth.'  This 
seemed  like  a  sword  through  my  heart.  In  an  in- 
stant, I  recollect  to  have  seen  my  brother  standing 
before  me,  disputing  with  the  doctor.  The  three  days 
during  which  I  had  appeared  lifeless,  seemed  to  me 
not  more  than  ten  or  twenty  minutes.  The  idea  of 
returning  to  this  world  of  sorrow  and  trouble,  gave 
mc  such  a  sliock,  that  I  fainted  repeatedly.'  He 
added, '  Such  was  the  effect  on  my  mind  of  what  I 
had  seen  and  heard,  that  if  it  be  possible  for  a  hu- 
man being  to  live  entirely  above  the  world  and  the 
things  of  it  for  some  time  afterwards,  I  was  that  per- 


178  THE    KEV.    W.M.    TENNE.'CT,    JR. 

son  The  ravishing  sounds  of  the  songs  and  halfe- 
kijahs  that  I  heard,  and  the  very  words  utter- 
ed, were  not  out  of  rny  cars,  when  awake,  for  at 
least  three  years.  All  the  kingdoms  of  the  earth 
wore  in  my  sight  as  nothing  and  ranity ;  and  so 
groat  were  my  ideas  of  heavenly  glory,  that  nothing, 
which  did  not,  in  some  measure,  relate  to  it,  could 
command  my  serious  attention. '* 

*  "  The  author  Ims  Lccu  partic»larly  solicitous  to  obtain 
every  confirmation  of  this  extraordinary  event  in  the  life  of 
Mr.  Tennent.  He  accordingly  wrote  to  every-  person  he 
could  think  of,  likely  to  have  conversed  with  Mr.  T,  on  the 
subject.  He  received  several  answers  ;  but  the  following 
letter  from  the  worthy  successor  of  Mr.  Tennent,  in  the  pas- 
toral charge  ol  his  church,  will  answer  for  the  author's  pur- 
pose. 

"  ^Monmouth,  New  Jersey,  Dec.  10th,  1805. 
" '  Dear  Sir, 

"  'Agreeably  to  your  request,  I  now  send  you  in  writing  the 
remarkable  account,  which  I  sometime  since  gave  you  ver- 
bally, respecting  your  good  friend,  my  Avorthy  predecessor, 
the  late  Rev.  William  Tennent,  of  this  place.  In  a  very  free 
and  feeling  conversation  on  religion,  and  on  the  future  rest 
and  blessedness  of  the  people  of  God,  (while  travelling  to- 
gether from  IMonmouth  to  Princeton)  I  mentioned  to  Mr. 
Tennent,  that  I  should  be  highly  gratified  in  hearing,  from 
his  own  mouth,  an  account  of  the  trance  which  he  was  said 
to  have  been  in,  unless  the  relation  would  be  disagreeable  to 
himself  After  a  short  silence,  he  proceeded,  saying,  that  ho 
had  been  sick  with  a  tever,  that  the  fever  increased,  and  he 
by  degrees  sunk  under  it.  After  some  time  (as  his  friends 
informed  him)  he  died,  or  appeared  to  die,  in  the  same  man- 
ner as  persons  usuaUy  do  ;  that  in  laying  him  out,  one  hap- 
pened to  draw  his  hand  under  the  left  arm,  and  perceived  a 


THE    REV.    \VM.    TEXXEN'T,    JR,  173 

<<  It  is  not  surprising,  that  after  so  affecting  an  ac- 
count, strong  solicitude  should  luive  been  felt  tor 
further  information  as  to  the  words,  or  at  least  the 
subjects  of  praise  and  adoration,  M-liich  Mr.  Tenncnt 

r.mall  tremor  lu  the  flesh  ;  that  he  was  laid  out,  and  was  cold 
and  stiff.  The  time  for  his  funeral  was  appointed,  and  the 
people  collected  ;  but  a  young  doctor,  his  particular  friend, 
pleaded  with  great  earnestness  that  he  might  not  then  be 
buried,  as  the  tremor  under  the  arm  continued  ;  that  his  bro- 
ther Gilbert,  became  impatient  with  the  young  gentleman, 
and  said  to  him,  'What  !  a  man  not  dead,  u-lio  is  cold  and 
stiff  as  a  stake?'  The  importunate  young  friend,  however, 
prevailed  ;  another  day  was  appointed  for  the  burial,  and  the 
people  separated.  During  this  interval,  many  means  Avere 
made  use  of  to  discover,  if  possible,  some  symptoms  of  life, 
biit  Bene  appeared  excepting  the  tremor.  The  doctor  never 
left  him  for  three  nights  and  three  days.  The  people  again 
met  to  bury  him,  but  covild  not  even  then  obtain  the  consent 
of  his  friend,  Avho  pleaded  for  one  hour  more  ;  and  when  that 
was  gone,  he  pleaded  for  half  an  hour,  and  then  for  a  quar- 
tt'r  of  an  hour;  when,  just  at  the  close  of  this  period,  on 
which  hung  his  last  hope,  Mr.  Tennent  opened  his  eyes. 
They  then  pried  open  his  mouth,  which  was  stiff,  so  as  to 
get  a  quili  into  it,  through  which  some  liquid  was  conveyed 
into  the  stomach,  and  he  by  degrees  recovered. 

"  *  This  account,  as  intimated  before,  .Mr.  Tennent  said  he 
had  received  from  his  friends.  I  said  to  him,  *  Sir,  you  seem 
to  be  one  indeed  raised  from  the  dead,  and  may  tell  us  what 
it  is  to  die,  and  what  you  were  sensible  of  while  in  that  state. 
He  replied  in  the  following  words:  'As  to  dying — I  found 
my  fever  increase,  and  I  became  weaker  and  weaker,  untill  all 
at  once,  I  found  myself  in  heaven,  as  I  thought.  I  saw  no 
shape  as  to  the  Deity,  but  glory  all  unutterable  ."  Here  he 
paused,  as  though  unable  to  find  words  to  express  his  views, 
let  his  bridle  fall,  and  lifting  up  liis  iiands,  proceeded,  '  I  can 
eay,  as  St.  Paul  did,  I  heard  and  I  saw  things  all  unutterable; 
I  saw  a  great  multitude  before  this  glory,  apparently  in  the 


174  Tin:  rkv.  wm.  thnnent,  ju. 

had  heard.  But  when  he  was  requested  to  commu- 
nicate these,  he  gave  a  decided  negative,  adding, 
'  You  will  know  them,  with  many  other  particulars, 
hereafter,  as  you  will  find  the  whole  among  my  pa- 
pers ;'  alluding  to  his  intention  of  leaving  the  writer 

height  of  bliss,  singing  most  melodiously.  I  was  transported 
with  ray  own  situation,  vicv/ing  all  my  troubles  ended  and 
my  rest_and  glory  begun,  and  was  about  to  join  the  great  and 
happy  raullilude,  when  one  came  to  me,  looked  me  full  in 
the  face,  laid  his  hand  upon  my  shoulder,  and  said,  '  You 
must  go  back.'  These  words  went  through  me;  nothing 
could  have  shocked  me  more  ;  I  cried  out.  Lord,  must  I  go 
back  !  With  this  shock  I  opened  my  eyes  in  this  world. 
When  I  saw  I  was  in  the  world,  I  fainted,  then  came  to,  and 
fainted  for  several  times,  as  one  probably  would  naturally 
have  done  in  so  weak  a  situation. 

*"Mr.  Tennent  i'urihcr  informed  me,  that  he  had  so  entirely 
lost  the  recollection  of  his  past  life,  and  the  benefit  of  his 
former  studies,  that  he  could  neither  understand  what  was 
spoken  to  him,  nor  write,  nor  read  his  own  name.  That  he 
had  to  begin  a'.l  anew,  and  did  not  recollect  that  he  had  ever 
read  before,  until  he  had  again  learned  his  letters,  and  was 
able  to  pronounce  the  monosyllables,  such  as  thee  and  thou. 
But,  that  as  his  strength  returned,  which  was  very  slowly, 
his  memory  also  returned.  Yet,  notwithstanding  the  extreme 
feebleness  of  his  situation,  his  recollection  of  what  he  saw 
and  heard  while  in  heaven,  as  he  supposed,  and  the  sense  ot 
divine  things,  which  he  there  obtained,  continued  all  the 
time  in  their  full  strength,  so  that  he  was  continually  in 
something  like  an  ecstacy  of  mind.  'And,'  said  he, 'for 
three  years,  the  sense  of  divine  things  continued  so  great, 
and  every  thing  else  appeared  so  completely  vain,  when 
compared  to  heaven,  that  could  T  have  had  the  world  for 
stooping  down  for  it,  I  believe  I  should  not  have  thought  oi 
doing  it.' " 


THE    REV.    VVM.    TENNENT,    JR.  175 

hereof  his  executor,  which  precluded  any  further 
sohcitation.* 

"  The  pious  and  candid  reader  is  left  to  his  own 
reflections  on  this  very  extraordinary  occurrence. 
The  facts  have  been  stated,  and  they  are  unquestion- 
able. The  writer  will  only  ask,  whether  it  be  con- 
trary to  revealed  truth  or  to  reason,  to  believe,  that 
in  every  age  of  the  world,  instances  like  that  which 
is  here  recorded,  have  occurred,  to  furnish  living  tes- 
timony of  the  reality  of  the  invisible  world,  and  of 
the  infinite  importance  of  eternal  concerns? 

"As  soon  as  circumstances  would  permit,  Mr.  Ten- 
nent  was  licensed,  and  began  to  preach  the  ever- 
lasting gospel  with  great  zeal  and  success.  The 
death  of  his  brother  John,  who  had  been  some 
time  settled  as  minister  of  the  Presbyterian  church 

*  "It  was  so  ordered,  in  the  course  of  divine  Providence, 
that  the  writer  was  sorely  disappointed  in  his  expectation  of 
obtaining  the  papers  here  alluded  to.  Such,  however,  was 
the  Avill  of  Heaven  !  Mr.  Tennent's  death  happened  during 
the  revolutionary  war,  when  the  enemy  separated  the  writer 
from  him,  so  as  to  render  it  impracticable  to  attend  him  on 
a  dying  bed ;  and  before  it  was  possible  to  get  to  his  house, 
after  his  death  (the  writer  being  with  the  American  army  at 
the  Valley-Forge),  his  son  came  from  Charleston,  and  took 
his  mother,  and  his  father's  papers  and  proper-y,  and  re- 
turned to  Carolina.  About  fifty  miles  from  Charleston,  the 
son  was  suddenly  taken  sick  and  died  among  entire  strangers; 
and  never  since,  though  the  writer  was  also  left  executor  to 
the  son,  could  any  trace  of  the  father's  papers  be  discovered 
by  him." 

L3 


176  THK    RKV.    \V^r.    TENNENT,    JR. 

at  Freehold,  in  the  county  of  Monmouth,  New  Jer- 
sey, left  that  congregation  in  a  destitute  state.  They 
had  experienced  so  much  sj)iritual  benefit  from  the 
indefatigable  labours  and  pious  zeal,  of  this  able 
minister  of  Jesus  Christ,  that  they  soon  turned  their 
attention  to  his  brother,  who  was  received  on  trial, 
and  after  one  year,  was  found  to  be  no  unworthy 
successor  to  so  excellent  a  predecessor.  In  October, 
1733,  Mr.  Tennent  was  regularly  ordained  their 
pastor,  and  continued  so  through  the  whole  of  a 
pretty  long  life  ;  one  of  the  best  proofs  of  ministe- 
rial fidelity. 

Although  his  salary  was  small,  (it  is  thought  un- 
der £100,)  yet  the  glebe  belonging  to  the  church 
was  an  excellent  plantation,  on  which  he  lived,  and 
which,  with  care  and  good  farming,  was  capable  of 
maintaining  a  family  with  comfort.  But  his  inat- 
tention to  the  things  of  this  world  was  so  great,  that 
he  left  the  management  of  his  temporal  concerns 
wholly  to  a  faithful  servant,  in  whom  he  placed 
great  confidence.  After  a  short  time,  he  found  his 
worldly  affairs  were  becoming  embarrassed.  His 
steward  reported  to  him  that  he  was  in  debt  to  the 
merchant  between  20/.  and  30/.,  and  he  knew  of  no 
means  of  payment,  as  the  ciops  had  fallen  short. 
Mr.  Tennent  mentioned  this  to  an  intimate  friend,  a 
merchant  of  New  York,  who  was  on  a  visit  at  his 
house.  His  friend  told  him,  that  this  mode  of  life 
would  not  do.  that  he  must  get  a  wife,  to  attend  to 


Tin:    RE\.    \VM.    TENNENT,    JU.  177 

his  temporal  aftairs,  and  to  comfort  his  leisure  hours 
by  conjugal  endearments.  He  smiled  at  the  idea, 
and  assured  him  it  never  could  be  the  case,  unless 
some  friend  would  provide  one  for  him,  for  he  knew 
not  how  to  go  about  it.  His  friend  told  him  he  was 
ready  to  undertake  the  business  ;  that  he  had  a  sis- 
ter-in-law, an  excellent  woman,  of  great  piety,  a 
widow,  of  his  own  age,  and  one  peculiarly  suited 
in  all  respects  to  his  character  and  circumstances. 
In  short,  that  she  was  every  thing  he  ought  to  look 
for;  and  if  he  would  go  with  him  to  New  York  the 
next  day,  he  would  settle  the  negociation  for  him. 
To  this  he  soon  assented.  The  next  evening  found 
liim  in  that  city,  and  before  noon  the  day  after,  he 
was  introduced  to  INIrs.  Noble.  He  was  much 
pleased  with  her  appearance  ;  and,  when  left  alone 
with  her,  abruptly  told  her,  that  he  supposed  her 
brother  had  informed  her  of  his  errand  ;  that  neither 
his  time  nor  inclination  would  sulfer  him  to  use 
much  ceremony ;  but  that  if  she  approved  the  mea- 
sure, he  would  attend  his  charge  on  the  next  Sabbath, 
and  return  on  Monday,  be  married,  and  immediately 
take  her  home.  The  lady,  with  some  hesitation  and 
difliculty,  at  last  consented,  being  convinced  that  his 
situation  and  circumstances  rendered  it  proper. 
Thus,  in  one  week,  she  found  herself  mistress  of  liis 
house.  She  proved  a  most  invaluable  treasure  to 
him,  more  than  answering  every  thing  said  of  her  by 
an   aflectionate   hrothor.     She  took  the  care  of  his 


178  Tin:     RKV.     \VM.    rr-NNKNT,    JR. 

tcmponil  concerns  u])on  Ikt,  extricated  him  from 
debt,  and,  l)y  a  liajjpy  union  of  j)rudence  and  econ- 
omy, so  managed  all  his  worldly  business,  that  in  a 
few  years  his  circumstances  became  easy  and  com- 
fortable. In  a  word,  in  her  was  literally  fulfilled  the 
declaration  of  Solomon,  that  'a  virtuous  woman  is 
a  crown  to  her  husband,  and  that  her  price  is  far 
above  rubies.'  Besides  several  children  who  died 
in  infancy,  he  had  by  her,  three  sons,  who  attained 
the  age  of  manhood;  John,  who  studied  physic,  and 
died  in  tlic  West  Indies  when  about  thirty-three 
years  of  age ;  William,  a  man  of  superior  charac- 
ter, and  minister  of  tho  Independent  church  in 
Charleston,  South  Carolina,  who  died  the  latter  end 
of  September,  or  beginning  of  October,  a.  d.  1777, 
about  thirty-seven  years  old ;  and  Gilbert,  who  also 
practised  physic,  and  died  at  Freehold,  before  his 
father,  aged  twenty  eight  years.  Few  parents  could 
boast  three  sons  of  a  more  manly  or  handsome  ap- 
pearance ;  and  the  father  gave  them  the  most  liberal 
education  that  the  country  could  afford. 

"  Mr.  Tennent's  inattention  to  earthly  things  con- 
tinued till  his  eldest  son  was  about  three  years  old, 
when  he  led  him  out  into  the  fields  on  a  Lord's  day, 
after  public  worship.  The  design  of  the  walk  was 
for  religious  meditation.  As  he  went  along,  acci- 
dentally casting  his  eye  on  the  child,  a  thought  sud- 
denly struck  him,  and  he  asked  himself  this  ques- 
tion :  '  should  God  in  his  providence  take  me  hence. 


THE     REV.   VVM.   TENNENT,  JR.  179 

what  would  become  of  this  child  and  his  mother, 
for  whom  I  have  never  taken  any  personal  care  to 
make  provision?  How  can  I  answer  this  negligence 
to  God  and  to  them?'  The  impropriety  of  his  inatten- 
tion to  the  relative  duties  of  life,  which  God  had  called 
him  to  ;  and  the  consideration  of  the  sacred  declara- 
tion, 'that  he  who  does  not  provide  for  his  own  house- 
hold, has  denied  the  faith,  and  is  worse  than  an  in- 
fidel,' had  such  an  impressive  eflect  on  his  mind,  that 
it  almost  deprived  him  of  his  senses.  He  saw  his 
conduct,  which  before  he  thought  arose  entirely 
from  a  deep  sense  of  divine  things,  in  a  point  of 
light  in  which  he  never  before  had  viewed  it.  He 
immediately  attempted  to  return  home,  but  so  great 
was  his  distress,  that  it  was  with  difficult}^  he  could 
get  along  ;  till,  all  at  once,  he  was  relieved  by  as 
suddenly  recurring  to  that  text  of  scripture,  which 
came  into  his  mind  with  extraordinary  force,  <  but 
unto  the  tribe  of  Levi  Moses  gave  not  any  inheri- 
tance, the  Lord  God  of  Israel  was  their  inheritance.' 
Such,  however,  was  the  effect  of  this  unexpected 
scene  on  Mr.  Tennent's  mind  and  judgment,  that 
ever  afterwards  he  prudently  attended  to  the  tem- 
poral business  of  life,  still,  however,  in  perfect  sub- 
ordination to  the  great  things  of  eternity  ;  and  be- 
came fully  convinced  that  God  was  to  be  faithfully 
served,  as  well  by  discharging  relative  duties  in  his 
love  and  fear,  as  by  the  more  immediate  acts  of  de- 
votion.    He  clearly  perceived,  that  every  duty  had 


ISO  THE    REV.    VV.\r.  TENNENT,    JR. 

its  proper  time  and  place,  as  well  as  motive  ;  that 
we  had  a  right,  and  were  called  of  God,  to  eat  and 
drink,  and  to  be  properly  clothed;  and  of  course 
that  care  should  be  taken  to  procure  those  things, 
provided  that  all  be  done  to  the  glory  of  God.  In 
the  duties  of  a  gospel  minister,  however,  especially 
as  they  related  to  his  pastoral  charge,  he  still  en- 
gaged with  the  utmost  zeal  and  faithfulness ;  and 
was  esteemed  by  all  ranks  and  degrees,  as  far  as  his 
labours  extended,  as  a  fervent,  useful,  and  successful 
preacher  of  the  gospel. 

"His  judgment  of  mankind  was  such  as  to  give 
him  a  marked  superiority,  in  this  respect,  over  his 
contemporaries,  and  greatly  aided  him  in  his  minis- 
terial functions.  He  was  scarcely  ever  mistaken  in 
the  character  of  a  man  with  whom  he  conversed, 
though  it  was  but  for  a  few  hours.  He  had  an  in- 
dependent mind,  which  was  seldom  satisfied  on  im- 
portant subjects  without  the  best  evidence  that  was 
to  be  had.  His  manner  was  remarkably  impres- 
sive ;  and  his  sermons,  although  seldom  polished, 
were  generally  delivered  with  such  indescribable 
power,  that  he  was  truly  an  able  and  a  successful 
minister  of  the  New  Testament.  He  could  say 
things  from  the  pulpit,  which  if  said  by  almost  any 
other  man,  would  have  been  thought  a  violation  of 
propriety.  But  by  him  they  were  delivered  in  a 
manner  so  peculiar  to  himself,  and  so  extremely  im- 
pressive, that  they  seldom  failed  to  please  and  to  in- 


THE    REV.    \VM.    TENNENT,  JK.  181 

Struct.  As  an  instanco  of  this  the  follow hig  anec- 
dote is  giv'en,  of  llic  truth  of  which  the  writer  was 
a  witness. 

"  Mr.  Tennent  was  passing  through  a  town  in  the 
state  of  New  Jersey,  in  which  he  was  a  stranger, 
and  had  never  preached,  and  stopping  at  a  friend's 
house  to  dine,  was  informed,  that  it  was  a  day  of 
fasting  and  prayer  in  the  congregation,  on  account 
of  a  very  remarkable  and  severe  drought,  which 
threatened  the  most  dangerous  consequences  to  the 
fruits  of  the  earth.  His  friend  had  just  returned 
from  church,  and  the  intermission  was  but  half  an 
hour.  Mr.  Tennent  was  requested  to  preach,  and 
with  great  difficulty  consented,  as  lie  wished  to  pro- 
ceed on  his  journey.  At  church,  the  people  were 
surprised  to  see  a  preacher,  wholly  unknown  to 
them,  and  entirely  unexpected,  ascend  the  pulpit. 
His  whole  appearance,  being  in  a  travelling  dress, 
covered  with  dust,  wearing  an  old  fashioned  large 
wig,  discoloured  like  his  clothes,  and  a  long  meagre 
visage,  engaged  their  attcniion,  and  excited  their 
curiosity.  On  his  rising  up,  instead  of  beginning  to 
pray,  as  was  the  usual  practice,  he  looked  around 
the  congregation,  with  a  piercing  eye  and  earnest 
attention,  and  after  a  minute's  profound  silence,  he 
addressed  them  with  great  solemnity  in  the  follow- 
ing words  :  '  IVIy  beloved  brethren  !  I  am  told  you 
have  come  here  to-day  to  fast  and  pray  ;  a  very 
good  work  indeed,  provided  yon  have  come  with  a 


18i8  THE     KKV.     W.M.    TENNUNT,   JK. 

sincere  desire  to  glorify  God  thereby.  But  if  your 
design  is  merely  to  comply  with  a  customary  prac- 
tice, or  with  the  wish  of  your  church  officers,  you 
are  guilty  of  the  greatest  folly  imaginable,  as  you 
had  much  better  have  staid  at  home  and  earned 
your  three  shillings  and  six  pence,*  But  if  your 
minds  are  indeed  impressed  with  the  solemnity  of 
the  occasion,  atid  you  are  really  desirous  of  hum- 
bling yourselves  before  Almighty  God,  your  heaven- 
ly Father,  come,  join  with  mc,  and  let  us  pray.* 
This  had  an  effect  so  uncommon  and  extraordinary 
on  the  congregation,  that  the  utmost  seriousness  was 
universally  manifested.  The  prayer  and  the  ser- 
mon added  greatly  to  the  impressions  ah'eady  made, 
and  tended  to  rouse  the  attention,  influence  the  mind, 
command  the  afljections,  and  increase  the  temper 
which  had  been  so  happily  produced.  JNIany  had 
reason  to  bless  God  for  his  unexpected  visit,  and  to 
reckon  this  day  one  of  the  happiest  of  their  lives.! 

*  "  At  that  time,  the  stated  price  for  a  day's  labour. 

t  "  The  writer  having  requested  of  the  present  Rev.  Dr. 
WiUiam  M.  Tennent  a  written  account  of  an  anecdote  rela- 
tive to  his  uncle,  which  he  had  once  heard  him  repeat  ver- 
bally, received  in  reply  the  following  letter  : 

"  Ahmgton,  January  Wth,  1S06. 

"  SiK, 

"The  anecdote  of  my  venerable  relative,  the  Rev,  Wil- 
liam Tennent,  of  Freehold,  which  you  wished  me  to  send 
to  you,  is  as  follows  ; 

"During  the  great  revival  of  religion,  which  took  place 
under  the  ministry  of  Mr.   Whitefield,    and    others  distin- 


THE    REV.    \VM.    TEXXE>fT,    JR.  183 

"  While  on  this  siiltject,  we  may  introduce  an- 
other anecdote  of  this  wonderful  man,  to  show  the 
deahngs  of  God  with  him,  and  the  deep  contempla- 
tions of  his  mind.  He  was  attending  the  duties  of 
the  Lord's  day  in  his  own  congregation  as  usual, 
where  the  custom  was  to  have  morning  and  even- 

guishcd  for  their  piety  and  zeal  at  that  period,  ]\Ir.  Tennent 
was  laboriously  active,  and  much  engaged  to  help  forward 
the  work  ;  in  the  performance  of  which  he  met  with  siron^j 
and  powerful  temptations.  The  following  is  related  as  re- 
ceived in  substance,  from  his  own  lips,  and  may  be  consid- 
ered as  extraordinary  and  singularly  striking. 

"  On  the  evening  preceding  public  Avorship,  which  was 
to  be  attended  the  next  day,  he  selected  a  subject  for  the 
discourse  which  was  to  be  delivered,  and  made  some  pro- 
gress in  his  preparations.  In  the  morning,  he  resumed  the 
same  subject,  with  an  intention  to  extend  his  thoughts  fur- 
ther on  it,  but  was  presently  assaulted  with  a  temptation, 
that  the  Bible  which  he  then  held  in  his  band  was  not  of 
divine  authority,  but  the  invention  of  man.  He  instantly 
endeavoured  to  repel  the  temptation  by  prayer,  but  his  en- 
deavours proved  unavailing.  The  temptation  continued, 
and  fastened  upon  him  with  greater  strength,  as  the  lime 
advanced  for  public  service.  He  lost  all  the  thoughts  which 
he  had  on  his  subject  the  preceding  evening.  He  tried 
other  subjects,  but  could  get  nothing  for  the  people.  The 
whole  book  of  God,  under  that  distressing  state  of  mind, 
was  a  sealed  book  to  him  ;  and  to  add  to  his  affliction,  he 
was,  to  use  his  own  words,  '  shut  up  in  prayer,''  A  cloud, 
dark  as  that  of  Egypt,  oppressed  his  mind. 

'•  Tlius  agonized  in  spirit,  he  proceeded  to  the  church 
where  he  found  a  large  congregation  assembled,  and  wait- 
ing to  hear  the  word  ;  and  then  it  was,  he  observed,  that  he 
was  more  deeply  distressed  than  ever,  and  especially  for  the 
dishonour  which  he  feared  would  fall  upon  religion,  through 
him,  that  day.     He  resolved,  however,  to  attempt  the  ser- 


184  THE    nEV.    WM.    TENNI.NT,    JR. 

ing  service  with  only  a  half  hour's  interniission,  to 
relieve  the  attention.  He  had  preached  in  the 
morning,  and  in  tlie  intermission  had  walked  into 
the  woods  for  meditation,  the  weather  being  warm. 
He  was  reflecting  on  the  infinite  wisdom  of  God,  as 
manifested  in  all  his  works,  and  particularly  in  the 
wonderful  method  of  salvation,  through  the  death 
and  sufferings  of  his  beloved  Son.  This  subject 
suddenly  opened  on  his  mind  with  such  a  flood  of 
light,  that  his  views  of  the  glory,  and  the  infinite 

vice.  He  introduced  it  by  singing  a  psalm,  during  •which 
time  his  agitations  were  increased  to  the  highest  degree. 
When  the  moment  for  prayer  commenced,  he  arose,  as  one 
in  the  most  perilous  and  painful  situation,  and  with  arms 
extended  to  the  heavens,  began  with  this  outcry,  ^  Lord  hate 
mercy  upon  me'.''  Upon  the  utterance  of  this  petition,  he 
was  heard  ;  tlie  thick  cloud  instantly  broke  away,  and  an 
unspeakably  joyful  light  shone  in  upon  his  soul,  so  that  his 
spirit  seemed  to  be  caught  up  to  the  heavens,  and  he  felt  as 
though  he  saw  God,  as  Moses  did  on  the  Mount,  face  to 
face,  and  was  carried  forth  to  him,  with  an  enlargement 
greater  than  he  had  ever  before  experienced,  and  on  every 
page  of  the  scriptures  saw  his  divinity  inscribed  in  brightest 
colours.  The  result  was  a  deep  solemnity  en  the  face  of 
the  whole  congregation,  and  the  house  at  the  end  of  the 
prayer  was  a  Boc/iim.  He  gave  them  the  subject  ot  his 
evening  meditations,  which  was  brought  to  his  full  remem- 
brance, with  an  overflowing  abundance  of  other  weighty 
and  solemn  matter.  The  Lord  blessed  the  discourse,  so 
that  it  proved  the  happy  means  of  the  conversion  of  about 
thirty  persons.  This  day  he  spoke  of,  ever  afterwards,  as 
his  harvest-day. 

"  I  am,  your's  with  esteem, 

"  WILLIAM  M.  TENNENT." 


THE    REV.    U'M.    TENNENT,    JR.  185 

majesty  of  Jehovah,  were  so  inexpressibly  great  as 
entirely  to  overwhelm  him,  and  he  fell,  almost  life- 
less, to  the  ground.  When  he  had  revived  a  little, 
all  he  could  do  was  to  raise  a  fervent  prayer  that 
God  would  withdraw  himself  from  him,  or  that  he 
must  perish  under  a  view  of  his  ineffable  glory. 
When  able  to  reflect  on  his  situation,  he  could  not 
but  abhor  himself  as  a  weak  and  despicable  worm, 
and  seemed  to  be  overcome  with  astonishment,  that 
a  creature  so  unworthy  and  insufficient,  had  ever 
dared  to  attempt  the  instruction  of  his  fellow-men 
in  the  nature  and  attributes  of  so  glorious  a  Being. 
Overstaying  his  usual  time,  some  of  his  elders  went 
in  search  of  him,  and  found  him  prostrate  on  the 
ground,  unable  to  rise,  and  incapable  of  informing 
them  of  the  cause.  They  raised  him  up,  and  after 
some  time  brought  him  to  the  church,  and  sup- 
ported him  to  the  pulpit,  which  he  ascended  on  his 
hands  and  knees,  to  the  no  small  astonishment  of 
the  congregation.  He  remained  silent  a  considera- 
ble time,  earnestly  supplicating  Almighty  God  (as 
he  told  the  writer)  to  hide  himself  from  him,  that 
he  might  be  enabled  to  address  his  people,  who 
were  by  this  time  lost  in  wonder  to  know  what  had 
produced  this  uncommon  event.  His'prayers  were 
heard,  and  he  became  able  to  stand  up,  by  holding 
the  desk.  He  now  began  the  most  affecting  and 
pathetic  address  that  the  congregation  had  ever  re- 
ceived from  him.     He  gave  a  surprising  account  of 


186  THE    REV.    WM.    TENNENT,    JH. 

the  views  he  had,  of  ihr  infinite  wisdom  of  God, 
and  greatly  deplored  iiis  own  incapacity  to  speak  to 
them  concerning  a  being  so  infinitely  glorious  be- 
yond all  bis  powers  of  description.  He  attempted 
to  show  something  of  what  had  been  discovered  to 
him  of  the  astonishing  wisdom  of  Jehovah,  of  which 
it  was  impossible  for  human  nature  to  form  adequate 
conceptions.  He  then  broke  out  into  so  fervent  and 
expressive  a  prayer,  as  greatly  to  surprise  the  congre- 
gation, and  draw  tears  from  every  eye.  A  sermon 
followed,  that  continued  the  solemn  scene,  and  made 
very  lasting  impressions  on  all  the  hearers.* 

« The  great  increase  of  communicants  in  his 
church  was  a  good  evidence  of  his  pastoral  care  and 
powerful  preaching,  as  it  exceeded  that  of  most 
churches  in  the  synod.  But  his  labours  were  not 
confined  to  the  pulpit.  He  was  indefatigable  in  his 
endeavours  to  communicate,  in  private  families,  a 
savour  of  the  knowledge  of  spiritual  and  divine 
things.  In  his  parochial  visits,  he  used  regularly  to 
go  through  his  congregation  in  order,  so  as  to  carry 
the  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ  to  every  house. 
He  earnestly  pressed  it  on  the  conscience  of  parents 

*  Mr.  Tennent  did  not  confine  himself  to  any  particular 
length  in  his  sermons,  but  regulated  this  very  much  by  his 
feelings.  The  late  Rev.  Dr.  Spring  of  Newburyport,  in- 
formed the  editor,  that  he  and  other  students  of  Nassau  Hall 
walked  twenty  miles  to  hear  him  preach,  and  the  sermon, 
measured  by  the  watch,  was  no  more  than  thirteen  minutes, 
in  the  delivery. 


THE    REV.    WM.    TENNENT,    JI{.  187 

to  instruct  their  cliildren  at  home  by  plain  and  easy 
questions,  so  as  gradually  to  expand  their  young 
minds,  and  prepare  them  for  the  reception  of  the 
more  practical  doctrines  of  the  gospel.  In  this,  Mr. 
Tenncnt  has  presented  an  excellent  example  to  his 
brethren  in  the  ministry ;  for  certain  it  is,  that  more 
good  may  be  done  in  a  congregation,  by  this  domes- 
tic mode  of  instruction,  than  any  one  can  imagine, 
wiio  has  not  made  the  trial.  Children  and  servants 
are  in  this  way  prepared  for  the  teachings  of  the 
sanctuary,  and  to  reap  the  full  benefit  of  the  word 
publicly  prcoched.  lie  made  it  a  practice  in  all 
these  visits  to  enforce  practical  religion  on  all,  high 
and  low,  rich  and  poor,  young  and  old,  master  and 
servant.  To  this  he  was  particularly  attentive,  it 
being  a  favourite  observation  Avith  him,  <  that  he 
loved  a  religion  that  a  man  could  live  by.' 

"  Mr  Tennent  carefully  avoided  the  discussion  of 
controversial  subjects,  unless  specially  called  to  it  by 
particular  circumstances,  and  then  he  was  ever  ready 
to  assign  the  reason  of  his  faith.  The  fcjllowing 
occurrence  will  show  the  general  state  of  his  mind 
and  feelings  in  regard  to  such  subjects.  A  couple  of 
young  clergymen,  visiting  at  his  house,  entered  into 
a  dispute  on  the  question,  at  that  time  nuicli  contro- 
verted in  New  England,  whether  faith  or  repentance 
were  first  in  order,  in  the  conversion  of  a  sinner. 
Not  being  able  to  determine  the  pohit,  they  agreed 
to  make  Mr.  Tennent  their  umpire,  and  to  dispute 


188  inE     REV.     \VM.    TENNENT,    JU. 

the  subject  at  length  before  him.  He  accepted  the 
proposal,  and,  after  a  solemn  debate  for  some  time, 
his  opinion  being  asked,  he  very  gravely  took  his 
pipe  from  his  mouth,  looked  out  of  his  window, 
pointed  to  a  man  ploughing  on  a  hill  at  some  dis- 
tance, and  asked  the  young  clergymen,  if  they  knew 
that  man  :  on  their  answering  in  the  negative,  he 
told  them  it  was  one  of  his  elders,  who,  to  his 
full  conviction,  had  been  a  sincere  Christian  for  more 
than  thirty  years.  '  Now,' said  Mr.  Tennent,  *ask 
him,  whether  faith  or  repentance  came  first,  what 
do  you  think  he  would  say  ?'  They  said,  they  could 
not  tell.  '  Then,'  says  he, '  I  will  tell  you :  he  would 
say,  that  he  cared  not  which  came  first,  but  that  he 
had  got  them  both.  Now,  my  friends,'  he  added, 
<  be  careful  that  you  have  both  a  true  faith,  and  a 
sincere  repentance,  and  do  not  be  greatly  troubled 
which  comes  first.'  It  is  not,  however,  to  be  sup- 
posed by  this,  that  jMr.  Tennent  was  unfriendly  to  a 
deep  and  accurate  examination  of  all  important 
theological  doctrines.  There  vv^ere  few  men  more 
earnest  than  he,  to  have  young  clergymen  well 
instructed  and  thoroughly  furnished  for  their  work. 
This,  indeed,  was  an  object  on  which  his  heart  was 
much  set,  and  which  he  exerted  himself  greatly  to 
promote. 

"  JMr.  Tennent  was  remarkably  distinguished  for  a 
pointed  attention  to  the  particular  circiunstances  and 
situation  of  the  afflicted,  either  in  body  or  mind,  and 


THE    REV.    WM.    TEN'NENT,    JR.  189 

would  visit  them  with  as  much  care  and  attention  as 
a  physician,  and  frequently  indeed  proved  an  able 
one,  to  both  soul  and  body.  But  his  greatest  talent 
was  that  of  a  peace-maker,  which  he  possessed  in  so 
eminent  a  degree,  that  probably  none  have  exceed- 
ed, and  very  few  have  equalled  liim  in  it.  He  was 
sent  for,  far  and  near,  to  settle  disputes,  and  heal 
difficulties,  which  arose  in  congregations ;  and,  hap- 
pily for  those  concerned,  he  was  generally  successful. 
Indeed,  he  seldom  would  relinquish  his  object  till  he 
had  accomplished  it. 

"But  while  this  man  of  God  was  thus  successful 
in  promoting  Ihe  best  interests  of  his  fellow  creatures, 
and  advancing  the  glory  of  his  Lord  and  Master, 
the  great  enemy  of  mankind  was  not  likely  to 
observe  the  destruction  of  his  kingdom  without 
making  an  efiort  to  prevent  it.  As  he  assailed  our 
blessed  Saviour,  in  the  days  of  his  flesh,  with  all  his 
art  and  all  his  power,  so  has  he  always  made  the 
faithful  followers  of  the  Redemer  the  objects  of  his 
inveterate  malice.  If  the  good  man  of  whom  we 
write,  was  greatly  honoured  by  peculiar  connnuni- 
cations  from  on  high,  he  was  also  very  often  the 
subject  of  the  severe  buffetings  of  that  malignant 
and  fallen  spirit. 

"  The  time  of  which  we  are  now  speaking  was 

remarkable  for  a  great  revival  of  religion,  in  which 

Mr.  Tenncnt  was  considerably  instrumental,  and  in 

which  a  Mr.  John  Rowland,  brought  up  with  Mr. 

M 


190  THi:     RKV.    W.M.    TENNKNT,    JR. 

Tenncnt  at  flic  J^og  College,  was  also  very  rcmarrf- 
able  lor  his  successful  preaching,  among  all  ranks  of 
people.  Possessing  a  commanding  eloquence,  as 
well  as  other  estimable  qualities,  he  became  very 
popular,  and  was  much  celebrated  throughout  the 
country'.  His  celebrity  and  success  were  subjects 
of  very  serious  regret  to  many  careless  worldlings, 
who  placed  all  their  happiness  in  the  enjoyment  of 
temporal  objects,  and  considered  and  represented 
Mr.  Rowland  and  his  brethren  as  fanatics  and 
hypocrites.  This  was  specially  applicable  to  many 
of  the  great  men  of  the  then  province  of  New  Jer- 
sey, and  particularly  to  the  Chief  Justice,  who  was 
well  known  for  his  disbelief  of  revelation.  There 
was,  at  this  lime,  prowling  through  the  country,  a 
noted  man  by  the  name  of  Tom  Bell,  whose  know- 
ledge and  understanding  were  very  considerable, 
and  who  greatly  excelled  in  low  art  and  cunning. 
His  mind  was  totally  debased,  and  his  whole  con- 
duct betrayed  a  soul  capable  of  descending  to  every 
species  of  iniquity.  In  all  the  arts  of  theft,  robbery, 
fraud,  deception,  and  defamation,  he  was  so  deeply 
skilled,  and  so  thoroughly  practised,  that  it  is  be- 
lieved, he  never  had  his  equal  in  this  country-.  He 
had  been  indicted  in  almost  every  one  of  the  middle 
colonies;  but  his  ingenuity  and  cunning  always 
enabled  him  to  escape  punishment.  This  man  un- 
happily resembled  Mr.  Rowland,  in  his  external 


THE    REV.    \V3r.    TEyyF.'ST,    JR.  191 

appearance,  so  as  liardly  to  be  known  from  him, 
without  the  most  careful  examination. 

"  It  so   happened,  that  Tom   Bell   arrived  one 
evening,  at  a  tavern  in  Princeton,  dressed  in  a  dark, 
parson's  gray  frock.     On  his  entering  the   tavern, 
about  dusk,  the  late  John  Stockton,  Esq.,  of  that 
town,  a  pious  and  respectable  man,  to  whom  Mr. 
Rowland  was  well  known,  went  up  to  Bell,  and  ad- 
dressed him  as  Mr.  Rowland,  and  was  inviting  him 
to  go  home  with  him.     Bell  assured  him  of  his  mis- 
take.    It  was  with  some  difficulty  that  Mr.  Stockton 
acknowledged  his  error,  and  then  informed  Bell,  that 
it  had  arisen  from  his  great  resemblance  to  Mr.  Row- 
land.    This  hint  was  sufficient  for  the  prolific  genius 
of  that  notorious   impostor.      The  next  day.  Bell 
went  into  the  county  of  Hunterdon,  and  stopped  in  a 
congregation  where   Mr.   Rowland  had   formerly 
preached  once  or  twice,  but  where  he  Avas  not  inti- 
mately known.     Here  he  met  with  a  member  of  the 
congregation,  to  whom  he  introduced  himself  as  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Rowland,  who  had  preached  to  them  some 
time  before.     This  gentleman  immediately  invited 
him  to  his  house,  to  spend  the  week ;  and  begged 
him,  as   the   people  v/ere  without   a   minister,  to 
preach  for  them  on  the  next  Sabbath,  to  Avhich  Bell 
agreed,  and  notice  was   accordingly  given   to   the 
neighbourhood.     The   impostor  was  treated  with 
every  mark  of  attention  and  respect  -,  and  a  private 

room  was  assigned  to  him,  as  a  studv,  to  prepare  for 
M9 


192  Tlir     HEV.     WM.    Tr.VNKNT,    JR. 

the  Sabbath.  The  sacred  day  arrived,  and  he  was 
invited  to  ride  to  church  with  the  ladies  in  the  family 
wagon,  and  the  master  of  the  house  accompanied 
iheni  on  an  elegant  horse.  When  they  had  arrived 
near  the  church,  Bell  on  a  sudden  discovered,  that 
he  had  left  his  notes  in  his  study,  and  proposed  to 
ride  back  for  them  on  the  fine  horse,  by  which 
means  he  should  be  able  to  return  in  time  for  the 
service.  This  proposal  was  instantly  agreed  to,  and 
Bell  mounted  the  horse,  returned  to  the  house,  rifled 
the  desk  of  his  host,  and  made  off  with  the  horse. 
Wherever  he  stopped,  he  called  Inmself  the  Rev, 
John  Rowland. 

"  At  the  time  this  event  took  place,  Messrs.  Tennent 
and  Rov/land  had  gone  into  Pennsylvania,  or  Mar^'-- 
land,  with  INIr.  Josliiia  Anderson,  and  Mr.  Benjamin 
Stevens,  (both  members  of  a  church  contiguous  to 
that  where  Bell  had  practised  his  fraud)  *on  business 
of  a  religious  nature.  Soon  after  their  return,  Mr. 
Rowland  was  charged  with  the  above  robbery :  he 
gave  bonds  to  appear  at  the  court  at  Trenton,  and 
the  affair  made  a  great  noise  throughout  the  colony. 
At  the  court  of  oyer  and  terminer,  the  judge  charged 
the  grand  jury  on  the  subject  with  great  severity. 
After  long  consideration,  the  jury  returned  into  court 
without  finding  a  bill.  The  judge  reproved  them, 
in  an  angiy  manner,  and  ordered  them  out  again. 
They  again  returned  without  finding  a  bill,  and  were 
again  sent  out  witli  threatenings  of  severe  punish- 


THE    REV.    %VM.    TENNENT,    JR.  193 

ment  if  they  persisted  in  their  refusal.  At  last  they 
agreed,  and  brought  in  a  bill  for  the  alleged  crime. 
On  the  trial,  Messrs.  Tennent,  Anderson,  and  Ste- 
vens, appeared  as  witnesses,  and  fully  proved  an 
alibi  in  favour  of  JNIr.  Rowland,  by  swearing,  that 
on  the  very  day  on  which  the  robbery  was  commit- 
ted, they  were  with  Mr.  Rowland,  and  heard  him 
preach  in  Pennsylvania  or  JNIaryland.  The  jury 
accordingly  acquitted  him  without  hesitation,  to  the 
great  disappointment  and  mortification  of  his  prose- 
cutors, and  of  many  other  enemies  to  the  great 
revival  of  religion  that  had  recently  taken  place  ; 
but  to  the  great  joy  of  the  serious  and  well  dis- 
posed. 

''The  spirits  hostile  to  the  spread  of  the  gospel  were 
not,  however,  so  easily  overcome.  In  their  view, 
an  opportunity  was  now  presented,  favourable  for 
inflicting  a  deep  wound  on  the  cause  of  Christianity  j 
and,  as  if  urged  on  by  the  malice  of  man's  great 
enemy,  they  resolved  that  no  means  should  be  left 
untried,  no  arts  imemployed,  for  the  destruction  of 
these  distinguished  servants  of  God.  Many  and 
various  were  the  circumstances  which  still  contri- 
buted to  inspire  them  with  hopes  of  success.  The 
testimony  of  the  person  who  had  been  robbed,  was 
positive  that  Mr.  Rowland  was  the  Jobber ;  and  this 
testimony  was  corroborated  by  that  of  a  number  of 
individuals  who  had  seen  Tom  Bell  personating  Mr. 

Rowland,  using  his  name,  and  in  possession  of  the 
M3 


194  rur.  nv.v.  \vm.  tknnent,  jr. 

horse.  These  sons  of  liilial  had  been  able,  alter 
great  industry  used  for  the  purpose,  to  collect  amass  of 
evidence  of  this  kind,  which  they  considered  as  esta- 
bhshing  the  fact;  but  Mr.  Rowland  was  now  out  of 
their  power  by  the  verdict  of  not  guilty.  Tlicir 
vengeance,  therefore,  was  directed  against  the  wit- 
nesses by  whose  testimony  he  had  been  cleared ; 
and,  they  were  accordingly  arraigned  for  perjury, 
before  a  coiurt  of  quarter  sessions,  in  the  county ; 
and  the  grand  jury  received  a  strict  charge,  the  plain 
import  of  which  was,  that  these  good  men  ought  to 
be  indicted.  After  an  examination  of  the  testimony 
on  one  side  only,  as  is  the  custom  in  such  cases,  the 
grand  jury  did,  accordingly,  find  bills  of  indictment 
against  Messrs.  Tennent,  Anderson,  and  Stevens,  for 
v/ilful  and  corrupt  perjury.  Their  enemies,  and  the 
enemies  of  the  gospel,  now  began  to  triumph. 
They  gloried  in  the  belief,  that  an  indelible  stain 
would  be  fixed  on  the  professors  of  religion,  and  of 
consequence  on  religion  itself;  and  that  this  new 
light,  by  which  they  denominated  all  appearance  of 
piety,  would  soon  be  extinguished  for  ever. 

"  These  indictments  were  removed  to  the  supreme 
court ;  and  poor  Mr,  Anderson,  living  in  the  county, 
and  conscious  of  his  entire  innocence,  could  not 
brook  the  idea  of  lying  under  the  odium  of  the 
hatefulcrime  of  perjury,he,therefore,demandeda  trial 
at  the  first  court  of  oyer  and  terminer.  This  proved 
most  seriously  injurious  to  him,  for  he  was  pro- 


THE    REV.    WM.    TENNENT,    JR.  195 

nounced  guilty,  and  most  cruelly  and  unjustly  con- 
demned to  stand  one  hour  on  the  court-house  steps, 
with  a  paper  on  his  breast,  whereon  was  written  in 
iai'ge  letters, '  This  is  for  wilful  and  corrupt  perjury  ;' 
which  sentence  was  executed  upon  him. 

«  Messrs.  Tennent  and  Stevens  were  summoned  to 
appear  at  the  next  court ;  and  attended  accordingly, 
depending  on  the  aid  of  Mr.  .Jolin  Coxe,  an  eminent 
lawyer,  who  had  been  previously  employed  to  con- 
duct their  defence.  As  Mr.  Tennent  was  wholly 
unacquainted  with  the  nature  of  forensic  litigation, 
and  did  not  know  of  any  person  living  who  could 
prove  his  innocence,  (all  the  persons  who  were  with 
him  being  indicted)  his  only  resource  and  consola- 
tion was,  to  commit  himself  to  the  divine  will,  and 
if  he  must  suffer,  to  take  it  as  from  the  hand  of 
God,  who,  he  well  knew,  could  make  even  the 
wrath  of  man  to  praise  him  ;*  and  considering  it  as 
probable  that  he  might  suffer,  he  had  prepared  a 
sermon  to  be  preached  from  the  pillory,  if  that 
should  be  his  fate.  On  his  arrival  at  Trenton,  he 
found  the  famous  ISIr.  Smith,  of  New  York,  father 
of  the  late  chief  justice  of  Canada,  one  of  the  ablest 
lawyers  in  America,  and  of  a  religious  character, 
who  had  voluntarily  attended  to  aid  in  his  defence  ; 
also  his  brother  Gilbert,  who  was  now  settled  in  the 

*  "His  afTeclionate  congregation  feU  deeply  interested  in  his 
critical  situation,  and  kept  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer  on  the 
occasion. 


196  TlIF,     Iir.V.     WM.    TEN.NEXT,    JK. 

pastoral  charge  of  the  second  Presbyterian  church, 
in  Philadelphia,  and  who  brought  Mr.  John  Kin- 
sey,  one  of  the  first  counsellors  of  that  city,  for  the 
same  purpose.  Messrs.  Tennent  and  Stevens  met  these 
gentlemen  at  Mr.  Coxe's,  the  morning  before  the 
trial  was  to  come  on.  Mr.  Coxe  requested  that  they 
would  bring  in  their  witnesses,  that  they  might  ex- 
amine them  previously  to  their  going  into  court. 
Mr.  Tennent  answered,  that  he  did  not  know  of  any 
witnesses  but  God  and  his  own  conscience.  Mr. 
Coxe  replied, '  If  you  have  no  witnesses,  sir,  the  trial 
must  be  put  off';  otherwise  you  most  certainly  will 
be  convicted.  You  well  know  the  strong  testimony 
that  will  be  brought  against  you,  and  the  exertions 
that  are  making  to  accomplish  your  ruin.'  Mr. 
Tennent  replied,  '  I  am  sensible  of  all  this,  yet  it 
never  shall  be  said  that  I  have  delayed  the  trial,  or 
been  afraid  to  meet  the  justice  of  my  country.  I 
know  my  own  innocence,  and  that  God  whose  I  am, 
and  whom  I  serve,  will  never  sutler  me  to  fall  by 
these  snares  of  the  devil,  or  by  the  wicked  machina- 
tions of  his  agents  or  servants.  Therefore,  gentle- 
men, go  on  to  the  trial.'  Messrs.  Smith  and  Kinsey, 
who  were  both  religions  men,  told  him  that  his  con- 
fidence and  trust  in  God,  as  a  Christian  minister  of 
the  gospel,  was  well  founded,  and  before  a  heavenly 
tribunal  would  be  all-important  to  him ;  but  assured 
him  it  would  not  avail  in  an  earthly  court,  and 
urged  his  consent  to  put  off  the  trial.     Mr.  Tennent 


THE    REV.    \VM.    TENNENT,    JR.  197 

continued  inflexible  in  his  refusal ;  on  which  Mr. 
Coxe  told  him,  that  since  he  was  determined  to  go 
to  trial,  he  had  the  satisfaction  of  informing  him, 
that  they  had  discovered  a  flaw  in  the  indictment, 
which  miglit  prove  favourable  to  him  on  a  demur- 
rer. He  asked  for  an  explanation,  and  on  finding 
that  it  was  to  admit  the  fact  in  a  legal  point  of  view, 
and  rest  on  the  law  arising  from  it,  Mr.  Tennent 
broke  out  with  great  vehemence,  saying  that  this 
was  another  snare  of  the  devil,  and  before  he  would 
consent  to  it  he  would  suffer  death.  He  assured  his 
'  'msel,  that  his  confidence  in  God  was  so  strong, 

»a  his  assurance  that  he  would  bring  about  his 
deliverance  in  some  way  or  other,  was  so  great,  that 
he  did  not  wish  them  to  dela^-  the  trial  for  a  mo- 
ment. 

"Mr.  Stevens,  whose  faith  was  not  of  this  de- 
scription, and  who  was  bowed  down  to  the  ground 
under  the  most  gloomy  apprehensions  of  suffering, 
as  his  neighbour  Mr.  Anderson  had  done,  eagerly 
seized  the  opportunity  of  escape  that  was  offered, 
and  was  afterwards  discharged  on  the  exception. 

"  Mr.  Coxe  still  urged  putting  off  the  trial,  charg- 
ing Mr.  Tennent  with  acting  the  part  rather  of  a 
wild  enthusiast,  than  of  a  meek  and  prudent  Chris- 
tian ;  bat  he  insisted  that  they  should  proceed,  and 
left  them  in  astonishment,  not  knowing  how  to  act, 
when  the  bell  summoned  them  to  court. 

"  Mr.  Tennent  had  not  walked  far  in  the  street, 


IH8  THE    KKV.    W.M.    TENNENT,    JR. 

before  lie  met  a  man  and  liis  wife,  who  stopped 
him,  and  asked  if  his  name  was  not  Tcnnent.     He 
answered  in  the  aflirnialivc,  and  begged  to  know  if 
they  had  any  business  with  liim.     Tiie  man  replied, 
'  you  best  know.'     He  told  his  name,  and  said  that 
he  was  from  a  certain  place  (which  he  mentioned) 
in  Pennsylvania  or  Maryland ;  that  Messrs.  Rowland 
Tennent,  Anderson,  and  Stevens,  had  lodged  either 
at  his  house,  or  in  a  house  wherein  he  and  his  wife* 
had  been  servants,  (it  is  not  now  certain  which)  at 
a  particular  time,  which  he  named  ;  that  on  the  fol- 
lowing day  they  had  heard  Messrs.  Tennent  an'^ 
Rowland  preach  ;  that  some  nights  before  they  . 
home,  he  and  his  wife  waked  out  of  a  sound  sleep, 
and  each  told  the  other  a  dream  which  had  just 
occurred,  and  which   proved   to   be   the   same   in 
substance,  to  wit,  that  he,  Mr.  Tennent,  at  Tren- 
ton, was  in  the  greatest  possible  distress,  and  that 
it  was  in  their  power  and  their's  only,  to  relieve 
him.     Considering  it  as  a  remarkable  dream  only, 
they  again  went  to  sleep,  and  it  was  twice  repeated 
precisely   in   the   same  manner,  to  both  of  them. 
This  made  so  deep  an  impression  on  their  minds, 
that  they  set  off,  and  here  they  were,  and  would 
know  of  him  what  they  were  to  do.     jNlr.  Tennent 
immediately  went  with  them  to  the  court  house, 
and  his  counsel,  on  examining  the  man  and  his  wife 
and  finding  their  testimony  to  be  full  to  the  purpose, 
were,  as  they  well  might  be,  in  perfect  astonish- 


THE    REV.    WM.    TENNENT,  JR.  199 

ment.  Before  the  trial  began,  another  person,  of  a 
low  character,  called  on  Mr,  Tennent,  and  told  him 
that  he  was  so  harrassed  in  conscience,  for  the  part 
he  had  been  acting  in  this  prosecution,  that  he  could 
get  no  rest  till  he  had  determined  to  come  and  make 
a  full  confession.  He  sent  this  man  to  his  counsel 
also.  Soon  after,  Mr.  Stockton  from  Princeton  ap- 
peared, and  added  his  testimony.  In  short,  they 
went  to  trial,  and  notwithstanding  the  utmost  exer- 
tions of  the  ablest  counsel,  who  had  been  employed 
to  aid  the  atlornc^^-general  against  Mr.  Tennent,  the 
advocates  on  his  side  so  traced  every  movement  of 
the  defendant  on  the  Saturday,  Sunday,  and  Mon- 
day, in  question,  and  satisfied  the  jury  so  perfectly 
on  the  subject,  that  they  did  not  hesitate  honourably 
to  acquit  Mr.  Tennent,  by  their  unanimous  verdict 
of  not  guilty,  to  the  great  confusion  and  mortifica- 
tion of  his  numerous  opposers.  Mr.  Tennent  as- 
sured the  writer  of  this,  that  during  the  whole  of 
this  business,  his  spirits  never  failed  him,  and  that 
he  contemplated  the  possibility  of  his  suffering  so 
infamous  a  punishment,  as  standing  in  the  pillory, 
without  dismay,  and  had  made  preparation,  and 
was  fully  determined,  to  deliver  a  sermon  to  the 
people  in  that  situation,  if  he  should  be  placed  in  it. 
«  He  went  from  Trenton  to  Philadelphia  with  his 
brother,  and  on  his  return,  as  he  was  rising  the  hill 
at  the  entrance  of  Trenton,  without  reflecting  on 
what  had  happened,  he  accidentally  cast  his  eyes 


800  IHK     REV.     VVM.    TKSSESr,    JR. 

Oil  the  pilloiy,  which  suddenly  so  filled  liiiu  with 
horror,  as  completely  to  iiiiniau  him,  and  it  was 
with  great  dilficulty  that  he  kept  himself  from  fall- 
ing from  his  horse.  He  reached  the  tavern  door  in 
considerable  danger,  was  obliged  to  be  assisted  to 
dismount,  and  it  was  some  time  before  he  could  so 
get  the  better  of  his  fears  and  confusion,  as  to  pro- 
ceed on  his  journey.  Such  is  the  constitution  of  the 
human  mind  !  It  will  often  resist,  with  unshaken 
firmness,  the  severest  external  pressure  and  violence ; 
and  sometimes  it  yields  without  reason,  when  it  has 
nothing  to  fear.  Or,  should  we  not  rather  say,  such 
is  the  support  which  God  sometimes  affords  to  his 
people  in  the  time  of  their  necessity,  and  such  the 
manner  in  which  he  leaves  them  to  feel  their  own 
weakness  when  that  necessity  is  past,  that  all  the 
praise  may  be  given  where  alone  it  is  due  ? 

"  The  writer  sincerely  rejoices,  that  though  a 
number  of  the  extraordinary  incidents  in  the  life  of 
Mr.  Tennent  cannot  be  vouched  by  public  testimo- 
ny and  authentic  documents,  yet  the  singular  man- 
ner in  which  a  gracious  God  did  appear  for  this  his 
faithful  servant  in  the  time  of  that  distress  which 
has  just  been  noticed,  is  a  matter  of  public  notoriety, 
and  capable  of  being  verified  by  the  most  unques- 
tionable testimony  and  records. 

"  This  special  instance  of  the  interference  of  the 
righteous  judge  of  all  the  earth  ought  to  yield  con- 
solation to  pious  people  in  seasons  of  great  ditiiculty 


THE    REV.    WM.    TENXENT,    JR.  SOI 

and  distress,  where  there  is  none  that  seems  able  to 
dehver  them.  Yet  it  ought  to  afford  no  encourage- 
ment to  the  enthusiast,  who  refuses  to  use  the 
means  of  preservation  and  deliverance  which  God 
puts  in  his  power.  True  confidence  in  God  is  al- 
ways accompanied  with  the  use  of  all  lawful  means, 
and  with  the  rejection  of  all  that  are  unlawful.  It 
consists  in  an  unshaken  belief,  that  while  right 
means  are  used,  God  will  give  that  issue  which 
shall  be  most  for  his  glory  and  his  people'tJ  good. 
The  extraordinary  occurrence  here  recorded  may 
also  serve  as  a  solemn  warning  to  the  enemies  of 
God's  people,  and  to  the  advocates  of  infidelity,  not 
to  strive  by  wicked  and  deep  laid  machinations  to 
oppose  the  success  of  the  gospel,  nor  to  attempt  to 
injure  the  persons  and  characters  of  those  faithful 
servants  of  the  Most  High,  whom  sooner  or  later  he 
will  vindicate  to  the  unspeakable  confusion  of  all 
who  have  persecuted  and  traduced  them. 

"  Mr.  Tennent  was  a  man  of  the  most  scrupulous 
integrity,  and  though  of  a  very  grave  and  solemn 
deportment,  he  had  a  remarkably  cheerful  disposi- 
tion, and  generally  communicated  his  instructions 
with  so  much  ease  and  pleasantry,  as  greatly  to  gain 
the  confidence  and  affection  of  all  with  whom  he 
conversed,  especially  of  children  and  young  people. 
In  all  his  intercourse  with  strangers  and  men  of  the 
world,  he  so  managed  his  conversation,  that,  while 
he  seldom  neglected  a  proper  o])portunity  to  impress 


202  Tiir.   nrv.   \v>t.  tknnent,  jr. 

the  mind  with  serious  things,  he  always  made  them 
covet  his  company,  rather  than  avoid  it ;  well  know- 
ing that  there  is  a  time  for  all  things,  and  tiiat  even 
instruction  and  reproof,  to  he  useful,  must  be  pru- 
dently and  seasonably  given. 

"  An  instance  of  this  disposition  occurred  in  Vir- 
ginia. The  late  Rev.  Mr.  Samuel  Blair  and  Mr. 
Tennent  were  sent  by  the  synod  on  a  mission  into 
that  province.  They  stopped  one  evening  at  a 
tavern  for  the  night,  where  they  found  a  number  of 
guests,  with  whom  they  supped  in  a  common  room. 
After  the  table  was  cleared,  our  missionaries  with- 
drew from  it.  Cards  were  then  called  for,  and  the 
landlord  brought  in  a  pack  and  laid  them  on  the 
table.  One  of  the  gentlemen  very  politely  asked 
the  missionaries  if  they  would  not  take  a  cut  with 
them,  not  knowing  that  they  were  clergymen.  Mr. 
Tennent  very  pleasantly  answered,  '  With  all  my 
heart,  gentlemen,  if  you  can  convince  us,  that  there- 
by we  can  serve  our  master's  cause,  or  contribute 
any  thing  towards  the  success  of  our  mission.'  This 
drew  some  smart  reply  from  the  gentleman,  when 
Mr.  T.  with  solemnity  added,  '  We  are  ministers  of 
the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ.  We  profess  ourselves 
his  servants ;  we  are  sent  on  his  business,  which  is 
to  persuade  mankind  to  repent  of  their  sins,  to  turn 
from  them,  and  to  accept  of  that  happiness  and  sal- 
vation which  is  offered  in  the  gospel.'  This  very 
unexpected  reply,  delivered  in  a  very  tender  though 


THE    REV.    WM.    TENNENT,    JR.  203 

solemn  manner,  and  with  great  apparent  sincerity, 
so  engaged  the  gentlemen's  attention,  tliat  the  cards 
were  laid  aside,  and  an  opportunity  was  afforded, 
and  cheerfully  embraced,  for  explaining  in  a  socia- 
ble conversation,  during  the  rest  of  the  evening, 
some  of  the  leading  and  most  important  doctrines  of 
the  gospel,  to  the  satisfaction  and  apparent  edifica- 
tion of  the  hearers. 

"  Resignation  to  the  will  of  God  in  all  his  dispen- 
sations, however  dark  and  afflictive,  was  among  the 
excellent  graces  that  adorned  the  character  of  this 
man  of  God.  He  had  been  tried  in  the  course  of 
God's  providence  in  various  ways ;  but  domestic 
afflictions,  as  yet,  had  not  been  laid  upon  him.  The 
time,  however,  was  now  come  when  his  character 
was  to  be  brightened  by  a  severe  test  of  his  resigna- 
tion and  obedience,  a  test  attended  with  many  pe- 
culiarly distressing  circumstances.  His  youngest 
son,  who  was  one  of  the  handsomest  of  men,  had 
just  come  into  public  life  ;  had  commenced  the  prac- 
tice of  physic ;  was  married,  and  had  one  child. 
To  the  great  distress  of  the  parents,  he  discovered, 
though  possessed  of  the  sweetest  temper  and  most 
agreeable  manners,  no  regard  to  the  things  that  be- 
longed to  his  eternal  peace.  Wholly  negligent  of 
religion,  he  indulged  without  restraint  in  the  gaiety 
and  follies  of  the  world.  The  pious  father  was  in- 
cessant at  the  throne  of  grace  in  behalf  of  his  dis- 
sipated son  ;  and  was  continually  entertaining  hopes 


204  THK     RLV.    WM.    TKNNKNT,    JR. 

that  God  would,  by  the  iiifkiences  of  liis  Spirit,  ar- 
rest him  in  his  career,  and  hringhim  into  the  church 
of  Christ,  before  his  own  summons  should  arrive; 
that  he  might  die  in  peace,  imder  the  consoling  hope 
of  meeting  this  dear  child  in  a  better  world.  God, 
however,  had  determined  otherwise  ;  and  the  son, 
while  engaged  in  inoculating  a  number  of  persons, 
in  a  house  he  had  obtained  for  the  purpose,  near  his 
father's  neighbourhood,  was  seized  in  an  unusually- 
violent  manner,  with  a  raging  fever.  With  the  dis- 
order, he  Avas  brought  to  a  sudden  and  alarming 
view  of  his  lost  condition  by  nature,  and  the  griev- 
ous transgressions  of  his  past  life.  His  sins  were 
all  set  in  dread  array  against  him.  A  horrible  dark- 
ness, and  an  awful  dread  of  the  eternal  displeasure 
of  Jehovah,  fell  on  him,  so  as  to  make  him  the 
dreadful  example  of  a  convicted  sinner,  trembling 
under  the  confounding  presence  of  an  angry  God. 
The  affectionate  and  pious  father  was  constantly  in 
prayer  and  supplication,  that  God  would  have  mercy 
upon  him.  He  seldom  left  the  side  of  his  bed.  For 
many  days  the  fever  raged  with  unabated  fury ; 
but  the  immediate  distresses  which  it  occasioned, 
were  lost  or  forgotten  in  the  severer  pains  of  an 
awakened  conscience.  Such  was  the  height  to 
which  his  anguish  at  last  arose,  that  the  bed  on 
which  he  lay  was  shaken  by  the  violent  and  united 
convulsions  of  mind  and  body.  The  parents  were 
touched  to  the  quick  ;  and  their  unqualified  siibmis- 


THE    REV.    \VM.    TENNENT,    JR.  205 

sion  to  God,  as  a  sovereign  God,  was  put  to  the 
most  rigorous  proof.  But  in  due  time  they  came 
out  of  tlic  furnace,  as  gold  tried  in  the  fu'e.  God,  in 
his  infmitc  and  condescending  grace  and  mercy,  was 
at  last  pleased,  in  some  measure,  to  hear  the  many 
prayers  put  up  by  the  parents,  and  many  pious 
friends,  for  the  relief  of  the  poor  sufl'erer.  His  views 
of  the  lost  state  of  man  by  nature ;  of  the  only 
means  of  salvation,  through  the  death  and  sufferings 
of  the  Saviour ;  of  the  necessity  of  the  inward  re- 
generating grace  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  became  clear 
and  consistent,  and  the  importance  of  a  practical  ac- 
quaintance with  these  things  was  deeply  and  ration- 
ally impressed  on  his  mind.  He  now  saw,  that  sal- 
vation which  he  had  deemed  almost  or  altogether 
hopeless  to  him,  was  possible.  His  mind  became 
calm,  and  he  attended  to  religious  instruction  and 
advice.  In  a  short  time  he  began  to  give  as  much 
evidence  of  a  change  of  heart  as  a  death-bed  repen- 
tance (rarely  to  be  greatly  relied  on)  can  easily  af- 
ford. He  sent  for  his  companions  in  iniquity,  and, 
notwithstanding  his  disorder,  exerted  himself  to  the 
utmost  to  address  them,  which  he  did  in  the  most 
solemn,  awful,  and  impressive  manner,  as  a  person, 
who,  by  the  infinite  mercy  of  a  prayer-hearing  God, 
had  been  delivered  from  a  hell  gaping  to  receive 
him.  He  besought  them,  by  all  the  terrors  of  ever- 
lasting destruction,  by  all  the  love  they  ought  to 
bear  to  their  own  immortal  souls ;  by  the  love  of 


206  THi:     REV.    WM.    TENNENT,    Jll. 

a  crucified  Jesus,  who  poured  out  his  soul  unto 
death,  that  they  miglitUve  forever;  by  his  own  aw- 
ful sufferings  and  terrible  example  ;  that  they  would 
repent  and  turn  to  God.  This  happy  change  was  a 
reviving  cordial  to  the  distressed  and  suffering  father. 
His  soul  was  overjoyed,  and  his  mouth  was  full  of 
the  praises  of  redeeming  love.  His  mind  and  spirits 
were  hereby  prepared,  with  true  resignation,  to  sur- 
render the  son  of  his  advanced  age  to  the  God  who 
gave  him.  After  a  few  days  more  of  severe  suffer- 
ing in  body,  but  rejoicing  in  mind,  the  son  was  re- 
moved from  time  to  eternity.  There  being  no  min- 
ister in  the  neighborhood,  the  father  undertook  to 
preach  a  funeral  sermon.  All  the  son's  old  compan- 
ions that  could  be  sent  to,  were  especially  invited, 
and  the  old  gentleman  preached  in  such  a  manner, 
with  a  particular  address  to  the  young  men,  as  to 
astonish  every  hearer ;  and  while  the  seriously  in- 
clined wondered  and  adored,  the  careless  were  con- 
founded and  greatly  alarmed. 

"  Scarcely  had  Mr.  Tennent  got  over  this  heavy  af- 
fliction, and  returned  to  an  active  and  useful  course 
of  life  for  a  few  years,  when  God  again  called  him 
to  another  severe  and  arduous  struggle  of  the  same 
nature.  His  eldest  son,  John,  promised  fair  to  make 
a  distinguished  figure  in  life,  had  possessed  a  large 
share  in  the  affections  of  both  father  and  mother, 
and  was  more  dear  to  their  hearts  than  ever,  since 
the  death  of  his  brother.     It  so  happened,  that  the 


THE    REV.    WM.    TENNENT,    JR.  207 

father  was  called  to  ]New-Yoi-k  to  heal  some  differ- 
ences between  the  members  of  the  church  there. — 
The  next  mornmg  after  his  arrival,  he  went  into  a 
bookstore,  when  one  of  the  ministers  of  the  Episco- 
pal church  came  in,  and  on  being  introduced  to  him, 
after  the  common  salutations,  told  him  he  condoled 
with  him  on  the  death  of  his  eldest  son  in  the  West- In- 
dies. The  old  gentleman  was  at  first  struck  dumb. 
With  difliculty  he  soon  inquired  how  the  news  came ; 
being  informed  that  it  was  by  a  circuitous  route,  he 
suddenly  turned,  and  said,  'The  will  of  the  Lord  be 
done.'  The  clergyman  observed,  tliat  it  was  happy 
for  him  to  be  able  so  cordially  to  submit  to  it.  Mr, 
Tenncnt  replied,  'The  Lord  is  my  God,  his  will  be 
done.'  On  being  asked  by  tiie  bookseller,  who  was 
his  particular  friend,  to  retire  into  the  house,  and 
endeavour  to  settle  his  mind,  he  answered,  'I  am 
come  on  the  Lord's  business  ;  my  duty  requires  that 
I  should  finish  it ;  when  that  is  done  I  shall  have 
time  enough  to  mourn  for  my  son.'  He  immediate- 
ly set  olf  to  attend  his  appointment,  finished  the 
business  to  his  satisfaction,  and  next  day  returned 
home,  where  he  found  that  a  letter  iiad  been  re- 
ceived by  a  neighbour,  containing  the  same  informa- 
tion which  ho  had  before  received.  Thus,  on  the 
most  trying  occasion,  he  showed  the  same  submission 
to  the  allotment  of  divine  providence  that  was  dis- 
coverable in  all  his  former  conduct.  The  following 
extract  from  a  letter,  written   at  this   time  to  the 

N 


2Q8  THE    REV.    \VM.    TENNENT,    JR. 

writer  of  this  narrative,  will  show  the  temper  of  his 
mind  in  his  own  langua'^e.  <  Freehold,  March, 
1776.  My  dear  sir,  perhaps  before  this  comes  to 
hand,  you  will  be  informed,  that  He  who  gave  me 
the  honourable  epilhet  of  a  father,  has,  in  his  wise 
and  unerring  providence,  written  me  childless.**  My 
son  is  dead.  Thii;  account  I  Iiad  yesterday  from  a 
letter  written  to  a  friund  ;  the  account  is  so  straight 
(though  not  circumstantial)  that  I  cannot  doubt  its 
truth.  The  tender  mother  has  not  heard  it,  nor  do 
I  intend  she  shall,  until  authenticated.  Thi:>  I  men- 
tion as  a  caution  to  you,  in  case  you  should  write 
me  before  the  matter  is  published.  Let  the  dear 
heart  have  all  possible  ease,  before  the  load,  which 
it  is  likely  will  try  her  life,  falls  upon  her.  I  know 
her  attachment  to  that  child  ;  his  conduct  has  been 
such  as  greatly  endeared  him  to  us.  Our  pains  and 
expense  in  his  education  have  been  great,  but  in- 
finitely short  of  what  God  has  done  for  him.  He 
has,  therefore,  the  best  right  to  him.  Should  we 
then,  were  it  in  our  power,  obstruct  his  taking  full 
possession  of  his  own  property  ?  God  forbid!  This, 
sir,  ihrough  God's  goodness,  is  not  only  what  I  say, 
but  it  is  the  temper  of  my  soul,  for  which  God  only 
deserves  the  lionour.  It  is  now  above  fifty  years 
since  my  soul  resigned  itself  to  God  in  Jesus  Christ. 

*  "He  seem?,  m  the  depth  of  hi?  distress,  to  have  forgot- 
ten, that  he  yet  had  one  son  left,  although  he  was  SOO  miles 
distant  from  him." 


THE    REV.    \VM,    TEXXENT,    JR.  209 

I  had  then  neither  son  nor  daughter ;  I  was  com- 
pletely satisfied  with  Him,  and,  blessed  be  his  name, 
I  am  so  now.  Have  I  then  reason  to  cry  out  as  if 
ruined  ?  0 !  no :  on  the  contrary,  I  have  the  ut- 
most reason  for  thanksgiving,  that  he  has  not,  in 
righteous  judgment,  deprived  me  of  himself,  in 
whom  all  fulness  dwells.  My  wife  and  myself  are 
now  hastening  to  childhood  ;  if  spared  a  few  years, 
we  shall  need  one  to  lead  us ;  and  v/e  shall  look  to 
you,  under  God.  All  the  benefit  you  can  expect 
from  so  doing,  will  consist  in  the  satisfaction  of  your 
own  mind,  that  you  have  helped  two  old  people 
through  the  last  steps  of  their  pilgrimage.'  Thus 
did  this  pious  man  turn  every  event  of  life,  however 
afflictive,  to  the  praise  and  glory  of  God,  and  he 
seldom  omitted  an  opportunity  of  inculcating  the 
same  disposition  on  all  his  acquaintance. 

<' When  the  late  Rev.  George  "Whitcfield  was  last  in 
this  country,  JNIr.  Tennent  paid  him  a  visit  as  he  was 
passing  through  New  Jersey.  Mr.  Whitefield  and 
a  number  of  other  clergymen,  among  whom  was 
Mr.  Tennent,  were  invited  to  dinner  by  a  gentleman 
in  the  neighborhood  where  the  late  JNlr.  William 
Livingston,  since  governor  of  New  Jersey,  resided, 
and  who,  with  several  other  lay  gentlemen,  were 
among  the  guests.  After  dinner,  in  the  course  of  an 
easy  and  pleasant  conversation,  Mr.  Whitefield  ad- 
verted to  the  difllculties  attending  the  gospel  min- 

istrv,  arising  from  the  small  success  with  which  thfiir 
N2 


210  TIIK    REV.    WM.    TKNXKNT,    JR. 

labours  were  crowned.  He  ^eally  lamented,  that 
all  llieir  zeal,  activity  and  fervour  availed  but  little  ; 
saidjthat  be  was  weary  witb  tlic  burdens  and  fatigues 
of  the  day  ;  declared  bis  great  consolation  was,  that 
in  a  short  lime  his  work  would  be  done,  when  he 
should  depart  and  be  with  Christ ;  that  the  prospect 
of  a  speedy  deliverance  had  supported  his  spirits,  or 
that  he  should,  before  now,  have  ^sunk  under  his 
labour.  He  then  appealed  to  the  ministers  around 
him,  if  it  were  not  their  great  comfort  that  they 
should  soon  go  to  rest.  They  generally  assented, 
excepting  Mr.  Tennent,  who  sat  next  to  Mr.  Wiiite- 
field,  in  silence  ;  and  by  his  countenance  discovered 
but  little  pleasure  in  the  conversation.  On  which, 
Mr.  Whitefield  turning  to  him,  and  tapping  him  on 
the  knee,  said,  <  Well  !  brother  Tennent,  you  are 
the  oldest  man  amongst  us,  do  you  not  rejoice  to 
think  that  your  time  is  so  near  at  hand,  when  you 
will  be  called  home  and  freed  from  all  the  difficul- 
ties attending  this  chequered  scene?'  jNIr.  T.  blimt- 
ly  answered,  '  I  have  no  wish  about  it.'  ^Mr.  W. 
pressed  him  again ;  and  ^Mr.  T.  again  answered, 
<  No  Sir,  it  is  no  pleasure  to  me  at  all,  and  if  you 
knew  your  duty,  it  would  be  none  to  you.  I  have 
nothing  to  do  with  death ;  my  business  is  to  live  as 
long  as  I  can — as  well  as  I  can — and  to  serve  my 
Lord  and  Master  as  faithfully  as  I  can,  until  he 
shall  think  proper  to  call  me  home.'  INIr.  W.  still 
urged  for  an  explicit  answer  to  his  question,  in  case 


THE    REV.    WM.    TENNENT,  JR.  211 

the  time  of  death  were  left  to  his  own  choice.  Mr. 
Tennent  rephed,  '  I  have  no  clioicc  about  it ;  I  am 
God's  servant,  and  liavc  engaged  to  do  his  business, 
as  long  as  he  pleases  to  continue  me  therein.  But 
now,  brother,  let  me  ask  you  a  question.  What  do 
you  think  I  would  say,  if  I  was  to  send  my  man 
Tom  into  the  field  to  plough ;  and  if  at  noon  I 
should  go  to  the  field,  and  find  him  lounging  under 
a  tree,  and  complaining.  '  Master  the  sun  is  very  hot, 
and  the  ploughing  hard  and  difficult,  I  am  tired  and 
weary  of  the  work  you  have  appointed  me,  and  am 
overdone  with  the  heat  and  burden  of  the  day :  do 
master  let  me  return  home  and  be  discharged  from 
this  hard  service  ?'  What  would  I  say  ?  Why,  that 
he  was  an  idle,  lazy  fellow  ;  that  it  was  his  business 
to  do  the  work  that  I  had  appointed  him,  until  I, 
the  proper  judge,  should  think  fit  to  call  him  home. 
Or,  suppose  you  had  hired  a  man  to  serve  you  faith- 
fully for  a  given  time  in  a  particular  service,  and 
he  should,  without  any  reason  on  your  part,  and  be- 
fore he  had  performed  half  liis  service,  become 
weary  of  it,  and  upon  every  occasion  be  expressing 
a  wish  to  be  discharged,  or  placed  in  other  circum- 
stances ?  Would  you  not  call  him  a  wicked  and 
slothful  servant,  and  unworthy  of  the  privileges  of 
your  employ  V  The  mild,  pleasant,  and  Christian- 
like manner,  in  which  this  reproof  was  administered, 
rather  increased  the  social  harmony  and  edifying 

conversation  of  the  company  •,  who  became  satisfied 

N3 


318  THE    nEV.    WM.    TF.NNKNT,    JIl. 

that  it  was  very  po!^siblc  to  err  even  in  desiring, 
with  undue  earnestness,  '  to  depart  and  be  with 
Christ,'  whicli  in  itself  is  '  far  better'  than  to  remain 
in  this  imperfect  state ;  and  that  it  is  the  duty  of  the 
Christian,  in  this  respect,  to  say,  '  All  the  days  of  my 
appointed  time  will  I  wait  till  my  change  come.' 

"Among  JNIr.  Tcnnent's  qualifications,  none  were 
more  conspicuous  than  his  activity  both  of  body  and 
mind.  He  hated  and  despised  sloth.  He  was  al- 
most always  in  action — never  wearied  in  well-doing, 
nor  in  serving  his  friends.  His  integrity  and  inde- 
pendence of  spirit  were  observable  on  the  slightest 
acquaintance.  He  was  so  great  a  lover  of  truth, 
that  he  could  not  bear  the  least  aberration  from  it, 
even  in  a  joke.  He  was  remarkable  for  his  candour 
and  liberality  of  sentiment,  with  regard  to  those  who 
differed  from  him  in  opinion.  His  hospitality  and 
domestic  enjoyments  were  even  proverbial.  His 
public  spirit  was  always  conspicuous,  and  his  attach- 
ment to  what  he  thought  the  best  interests  of  his 
country,  v.^as  ardent  and  inflexible.  He  took  an 
early  and  decided  part  with  his  country  in  the  com- 
mencement of  the  late  revolutionary  war.  He  was 
convinced  that  she  was  oppressed,  and  that  her  peti- 
tions to  the  sovereign  of  the  mother  country  were 
constitutional,  loyal,  moderate,  and  reasonable  ;  that 
the  treatment  they  received,  was  irrational,  tyranni- 
cal, and  intolerable.  As  he  made  it  a  rule,  however, 
never  to  carry  politics  into  the  pulpit,  he  had  no 


THE    REV.    WM.    TENNENT,    JR.  213 

way  to  manifest  his  zeal  lor  the  pubUc  measures, 
but  by  his  private  prayers,  and  by  his  decided  opin- 
ions deUvered  in  private  conversations.  But,  in  this 
way,  his  sentiments  became  universally  known,  and 
he  was  considered  as  a  warm  friend  to  the  American 
cause.  Notwithstanding  these  political  opinions, 
he  was  not  blind  to  the  errors  of  his  countrymen, 
and  especially  to  their  moral  and  religious  conduct. 
The  following  extract  from  a  letter  to  the  author  of 
these  sketches,  dated  Feb.  14,  1775,  strongly  marks 
the  temper  of  his  mind.  '  My  very  dear  Sir,  3^our 
kind  letter  came  to  hand,  three  days  since.  Your 
comforts  and  sorrows  arc  mine  in  no  small  degree  ; 
I  share  with  you  in  both ;  the  tie  is  such  as  death 
cannot  dissolve.  This  is  a  day  of  darkness  in  my 
view,  and  few  are  in  any  degree  properly  affected 
with  it.  I  have,  through  grace,  perhaps,  as  little  to 
fear  for  myself,  or  mine,  as  any  living.  I  humbly 
hope  we  are  housed  in  Jesus ;  but  I  am  distressed 
for  the  nation  and  land.  The  ruin  of  both  is  awfully 
threatened  ;  and,  though  now  deferred,  may  ere  long 
be  accomplished,  unless  reformation  takes  place.  It 
behoves  every  one  to  cry, '  spare  thy  people,  0  Lord, 
and  give  not  thine  heritage  to  reproach.'  I  know 
God  is  merciful ;  he  has,  notwithstanding,  disinhe- 
rited a  people  as  dear  to  him  as  ever  we  were, 
whose  sins  were  not  more  aggravated  than  ours. 
The  Lord  can  deliver,  but  have  we  reason  to  think 
he  will,  having  told  ns  that  he  will  '  wound  the  head 


214  THE    HEV.    WM.    TENNENT,    JH. 

of  his  enemies,  and  the  hairy  scalps  of  such  who 
go  on  in  their  trespasses  ?'  Is  therct  any  appearance 
of  reformation  ?  Yea,  is  it  not  the  reverse?  Are 
not  our  meetings  for  the  preservation  of  our  hberty, 
often  abused  by  excessive  drinking  ?  &c.  &c.  Have 
not  pohtics  taken  place  of  religion  in  all  our  conver- 
sations? Is  it  not  become  unconstitutional  (to  use 
the  vulgar  language)  to  mention  God's  name  in  com- 
pany, unless  by  way  of  dishonouring  him  ?  Are 
not  things  sacred  neglected  by  some,  and  burlesqued 
by  others  ?  Is  not  the  newspaper  substituted  for  the 
Bible,  on  Lord's  days,  yea,  at  church  ?  What  will 
the  end  of  these  things  be  ?  Blessed  be  God,  through 
Jesus  Christ,  He  is  for  a  sanctuary.' 

"  jNIr.  Tennent  was  on  a  visit,  within  less  than 
twenty  miles  of  New  York,  when  a  British  frigate 
attempted  to  pass  the  batteries,  and  to  proceed  up 
the  North  River,  while  General  Washington  lay  with 
the  American  army  in  the  city.  A  very  heavy  can- 
nonading took  place,  which  was  mistaken  by  the 
surrounding  country  for  a  general  attack  on  our 
army.  JSIr.  Tennent  was  deeply  afl'ected,  and  after 
a  violent  struggle  within  himself,  he  turned  to  a 
friend  or  two  present,  and  said,  '  Come,  while  our 
fellow  citizens  are  lighting,  let  us  retire  to  prayer.' 
They,  accordingly,  went  up  into  his  room,  where  he 
most  devoutly  poured  out  his  soul  for  about  half  an 
hour,  in  the  most  fervent  prayers,  wrestling  with,  God 
in  behalf  of  his  suffering  country. 


THE    REV.    WM.    TENNENT,    JR.  215 

"In  the  winter  of  1776-7,  the  British  overran 
a  great  part  of  the  state  of  New  Jersey,  and  particu- 
larly the  county  of  Monmouth,  where  a  number  of 
the  inhabitants  were  in  the  British  interests.  Such 
Avas  their  apparent  power,  and  the  distressed  situa- 
tion of  the  American  army,  retreating  before  them, 
that  it  was  generally  supposed  by  the  people  in  the 
country,  that  the  dispute  was  almost  at  an  end,  and 
that  all  hopes  of  successful  opposition  were  nearly 
extinguished.  A  British  party  arose  in  the  county, 
who  seized  their  fellow  citizens,  and  dragged  them 
to  a  British  provost,  where  they  were  treated  in  the 
most  cruel  manner,  as  rebels  and  traitors.  Even 
citizens  from  other  parts  of  the  state,  who  had  taken 
refuge  in  the  county,  depending  on  the  known  hos- 
pitality of  the  inhabitants,  were  not  respected.  In 
this  situation,  Mr.  Tennent  very  justly  thought  him- 
self in  great  danger ;  but  having  no  place  to  flee  to 
for  safety,  he  remained  at  home,  committing  himself 
to  the  protection  of  Almighty  God.  In  the  month 
of  Dec.  1776,  a  number  of  the  inhabitants  came  to  his 
house,  and  insisted  that  he  should  go  to  Princeton, 
without  delay,  and  take  the  benefit  of  General 
Howe's  proclamation,  offering  a  pardon  to  those 
who  should  seek  it  within  a  Umited  time.  He 
refused,  till  he  found  himself  in  danger  of  being 
taken  off'  and  committed  to  a  British  provost,  which 
he  well  knew,  was  but  another  word  for  a  lingering 
death.     He  also  found  that,  in  his  present  state,  his 


*16  THE    REV.  WM.  TENNENT,  JB. 

usefulness  as  a  minister  of  tlic  gospel  was  at  an  end, 
unless  he  conij)lied  with  the  wishes  of  the  people, 
most  of  the  whigs  of  influence  having  fled.  Con- 
cluding, that  ])n.'sciit  duty  enforced  the  request 
which  was  thus  urged  U])on  him,  he  promised  to  go 
to  Princeton.  On  liis  way,  he  lodged  at  the  house 
of  a  young  clergyman,  and,  on  rising  in  the  morn- 
ing, he  seemed  greatly  oppressed  in  spirit.  On  be- 
ing asked  what  troubled  him,  he  answered,  with  a 
heavy  sigh, '  I  am  going  to  do  a  thing  for  conscience 
sake,  directly  against  my  conscience,'  Soon  after 
his  return  home,  to  the  surprise  of  every  body,  the 
British  quarters  at  Trenton  were  beaten  up,  and  a 
British  regiment  taken  at  Princeton  ;  the  American 
army  again  advanced,  and  took  a  strong  position  at 
Morristown,  by  which  the  British  in  their  turn,  were 
obliged  to  retreat  and  contract  their  lines  to  Bruns- 
wick and  Amboy.  The  Americans  again  got  pos- 
session of  the  county  of  Monmouth,  where  the 
whigs  returned  in  force.  JMr.  Tennent's  mind  was 
greatly  oppressed  with  his  untoward  situation,  and 
he  severely  blamed  his  untimely  submission. 

"  About  the  latter  end  of  February,  or  beginning 
of  March,  1777,  Mr.  Tennent  was  suddenly  seized 
with  a  fever,  attended  by  violent  symptoms.  He 
sent  for  his  family  physician,  who  was  in  the  act  of 
setting  off  for  the  legislature  of  the  state,  of  which 
he  was  a  member,  lie  called  on  his  patient  on  his 
way,  but  could  spend  but  a  few  minutes  with  him. 


THE    REV.    WM.    TENNENT,    JR.  217 

He,  however,  examined  carefully  into  Mr  Tennent's 
complaints,  and  the  symptoms  attending  the  disor- 
der. With  great  candour,  the  physician  informed 
his  patient,  that  the  attack  appeared  imusually  vio- 
lent ;  that  the  case  required  the  best  medical  aid, 
and  that  it  was  out  of  his  powor  to  attend  him. 
He  feared  that,  at  his  advanced  age,  there  was  not 
strength  of  nature  sufficient  to  overcome  so  severe  a 
shock,  and  that  his  symptoms  scarcely  admitted  of  a 
favourable  prognostic.  The  good  old  man  received 
this  news  with  his  usual  submission  to  the  divine 
will ;  for,  as  he  had  always  considered  himself  as 
bound  for  eternity,  he  had  endeavoured  so  to  live, 
that  when  the  summons  should  come,  he  would 
have  nothing  to  do  but  to  die.  He  calmly  replied,  <I 
am  very  sensible  of  the  violence  of  my  disorder, 
that  it  has  racked  my  constitution  to  an  uncommon 
degree,  and  beyond  what  I  have  ever  before  expe- 
rienced, and  that  it  is  accompanied  with  symptoms 
of  approaching  dissolution  ;  but,  blessed  be  God,  I 
have  no  wish  to  live,  if  it  should  be  his  will  and 
pleasure  to  call  me  hence.'  After  a  moment's 
pause,  he  seemed  to  recollect  himself,  and  varied  the 
expression  thus:  'Blessed  be  God,  I  have  no  wish 
to  live,  if  it  should  be  his  will  and  pleasure  to  call 
me  hence,  unless  it  should  be  to  see  a  happy  issue 
to  the  severe  and  arduous  controversy  my  country 
is  engaged  in  ;  but,  even  in  this,  the  will  of  the  Lord 
be  done.' 


2  la  THE   UKV.  WM.  TENNENT,    JK. 

"  During  his  whole  sickne.s.s,  he  continued  per- 
fectly resigned  to  the  divine  will,  until  deatii  was 
swallowed  up  in  victory,  on  the  8th  day  of  March, 
1777.  His  body  was  buried  in  his  own  church,  at 
Freehold,  a  numerous  concourse  of  people,  com- 
posed, not  only  of  the  members  of  his  own  congre- 
gation, but  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  whole  adjacent 
country,  attending  his  funeral. 

"  Mr.  Tenncnt  was  rather  more  than  six  feet  high, 
of  a  spare  thin  visage,  and  of  an  erect  carriage.  He 
had  bright,  piercing  eyes,  a  long  sharp  nose,  and  a 
long  face.  His  general  countenance  was  grave  and 
solemn,  but  at  all  times  clieerful  and  pleasant  with  his 
friends.  It  may  be  said  of  him,  with  peculiar  pro- 
priety, that  he  appeared,  in  an  extraordinary  manner, 
to  live  above  the  world,  and  all  its  allurements.  He 
seemed  habitually  to  have  such  clear  views  of  spi- 
ritual and  heavenly  things,  as  aflbrded  him  much  of 
the  foretaste  and  enjoyment  of  them.  His  faith  was 
really  and  experimentally  '  the  substance  of  things 
hoped  for,  and  the  evidence  of  things  unseen.' 
Literally,  his  daily  walk  was  with  God,  and  he 
lived  '  as  seeing  him  who  is  invisible.'  The  divine 
presence  with  him,  was  frequently  manifested  in  his 
public  ministrations,  and  in  his  private  conduct. 
His  ardent  soul  was  seldom  satisfied,  unless  he  was 
exerting  himself,  in  some  way  or  other,  in  public  or 
private,  in  rendering  kind  offices  and  efiectual  ser- 
vices of  friendship,  both  in  spiritual  and  temporal 


THE    REV.    WM.    TENNENT,    JR.  219 

things,  to  his  fellow-men.  Take  him  in  his  whole 
demeanor  and  conduct,  there  are  few  of  whom  it 
might  more  emphatically  be  said,  that  he  lived  the 
life  and  died  the  death  of  the  righteous. 

"  He  was  well  read  in  divinity,  and  was  of  sound 
orthodox  principles.  He  professed  himself  a  mod- 
erate Calvinisf.  The  doctrines  of  man's  depravity; 
the  atonement  of  the  Saviour ;  the  absolute  necessi- 
t)''  of  the  all-powerful  influence  of  the  Spirit  of  God, 
to  renew  the  heart  and  subdue  the  will ;  all  in  per- 
fect consistence  with  the  free  agency  of  the  sinner, 
were  among  the  leading  articles  of  his  faith.  These 
doctrines,  indeed,  v\^ere  generally  interwoven  in  his 
public  discourses,  whatever  might  be  the  particular 
subj£ct  discussed.  His  success  was  often  answerable 
to  his  exertions.  His  people  loved  him  as  a  father ; 
revered  him  as  the  pastor  and  bishop  of  their  souls ; 
obeyed  him  as  their  instructor ;  and  delighted  in  his 
company  and  private  conversation  as  a  friend  and 
brother.  He  carefully  avoided  making  a  difference 
between  his  doctrines  publicly  tauglit  and  his  pri- 
vate practice.  Attending  a  synod,  a  few  years  be- 
fore his  death,  a  strange  clergyman,  whom  he  never 
had  before  seen,  was  introduced  to  the  synod,  and 
asked  to  preach  in  the  evening.  Mr.  Tennent  at- 
tended, and  was  much  displeased  with  the  sermon. 
As  the  congregation  were  going  out  of  the  church, 
Mr.  Tennent  in  the  crowd,  coming  up  to  the  preach- 
er, touched  him  on  the  shoulder,  and  said, '  My  bro- 


220  TTIE    REV.    UAf,    'inNNENT,    JR. 

thcr,  when  I  preach,  I  lake  care  to  save  iiiyseH', 
whatever,  I  do  with  my  congregation.'  'J'he  clergy- 
man looked  behind  him  with  surprise,  and  seeing  a 
very  grave  man,  said,  <  What  do  you  mean,  Sir  ?' 
Mr.  Tennent  answered,  '  You  have  been  sending 
your  whole  congregation,  synod  and  all,  to  perdi- 
tion, and  you  have  not  even  saved  yourself.  When- 
ever I  preach,  I  make  it  a  rule  to  save  myself,'  and 
then  abruptly  left  him,  without  his  knowing  who 
spoke  to  him. 

"  At  Mr.  Tennent's  death,  the  poor  mourned  for 
him  as  their  patron,  their  comforter  and  support ; 
and  the  rich  lamented  over  him  as  their  departed 
pastor  and  friend.  The  public  at  large,  lost  in  him 
a  firm  assertor  of  the  civil  and  religious  interests  of 
his  country.  He  was  truly  a  patriot,  not  in  words 
and  pretences,  not  in  condemning  all  who  differed 
from  him  to  proscription  and  death,  but  in  acting  in 
such  a  manner,  as  would  have  rendered  his  country 
most  happy,  if  all  had  followed  his  example.  He 
insisted  on  his  own  rights  and  freedom  of  sentiment, 
but  he  was  willing  to  let  others  enjoy  the  same  pri- 
vilege ;  and  he  thought  it  of  as  much  importance  to 
live  and  act  well,  as  to  think  and  speak  justly. 

"  To  conclude  these  imperfect  sketches.  May  all 
who  read  the  memoirs  of  this  amiable  and  useful 
man,  fervently  and  constantly  beseech  that  God, 
with  whom  is  the  residue  of  the  Spirit,  that-  their 
life  may  be  that  of  the  righteous,  so  that  their  latter 


THE    REV.    WM.    TENXENT,    JR.  221 

end  may  be  like  his  :  and  that  the  Great  Head  of 
the  Church,  while  he  removes  faithful  and  distin- 
guished labourers  from  the  gospel  vineyard,  may 
raise  up  others,  who  shall  possess,  even  a  double 
portion  of  their  spirit,  and  who  shall  be  even  more 
successful  in  winning  souls  unto  Jesus  Christ,  the 
great  bishop  of  souls." 


CHAPTER  XI. 


REMARKS  ON  THE  PRECEDING  NAR- 
RATIVE. 

Mr.  Tennent's  trance  not  supernatural — Numerous  diseases  the  cause 
of  the  phenomena — Case  of  Susannah  Orrcndorf — Moharamcd — 
Lackinford — Tlie  dreams  of  the  witnesses,  cannot  be  accounted  for 
on  natural  principles — God  still,  occasionally  gives  admonitory 
dreams. 

It  must  be  acknowledged,  that  some  of  the  facts 
recorded  in  the  preceding  narrative,  are  of  a  mar- 
vellous nature  ;  but  we  are  inclined  to  believe  that 
they  all  may  be  accounted  for  on  natural  principles, 
except  one.  The  appearance  of  death,  when  life  is 
not  extinguished,  but  only  suspended,  has  been  often 
observed,  on  the  termination  of  nervous  fevers, and  in 
epileptic  and  apoplectic  fits.  The  temporary  loss  of 
memory  on  recovery,  has  also  been  often  observed. 
Persons  have  been  known  to  lie  in  one  of  these  tran- 
ces, for  weeks  together.  And  there  is  too  much  rea- 
son to  fear,  that  many  persons  have  been  buried 
alive,  by  being  prematurely  carried  to  the  grave. 
This  undoubtedly  would  have  been  the  unhappy 
case  of  Mr.  Tennent,  had   not  his  yoimg  friend  in- 


223  THE    REV.    WM.    TENNENT,    JR. 

terposed.  And  as  to  the  happy  state  of  his  mind, 
during  this  period,  and  his  imagining  that  he  was  in 
heaven,  it  is  all  very  natural,  and  does  not  require 
that  we  should  suppose  the  soul  to  have  been  sepa- 
rated from  the  body.  Wc  would  not  deny,  that  a 
man  through  life  so  highly  favoured  in  receiving  ex- 
traordinary manifestations  of  God's  perfections,  and 
especially  of  his  love,  might,  even  when  in  this  state 
of  apparent  death,  have  been  the  subject  of  a  gra- 
cious influence,  which  filled  his  imagination  with  the 
rapturous  views,  which  he  enjoyed.  We  are  dis- 
posed, however,  to  admire  Mr.  Tennent's  prudence, 
in  not  being  forward  to  speak  of  his  experience,  du- 
ring this  period  ;  and  we  do  not  feel  disposed  to  re- 
gret, that  he  never  committed  to  writing  an  account 
of  his  visions ;  or  if  he  did,  that  his  executor  never 
could  lay  his  hands  on  the  manuscript.  When  Paul 
was  caught  up  to  Paradise,  and  heard  and  saw  the 
glory  of  the  third  heaven,  he  uttered  not  a  word  res- 
pecting the  nature  of  his  vision.  He  merely  said, 
that  he  "heard  unspeakable  things,  which  it  is  not 
lawful  for  a  man  to  utter."  The  writer  would  fur- 
ther remark,  that  in  certain  states  of  the  nervous 
system,  when  the  common  functions  of  life  seem  to 
be  suspended,  it  is  no  uncommon  thing  for  the  imagi- 
nation to  be  strongly  affected.  In  the  year  1791,  he 
went  several  miles  out  his  way,  in  company  with 
three  distinguished  clergymen,  to  visit  a  young  wo- 
man, the  daughter  of  a  wealthy  German  farmer,  not 


2S4  TFIE    nEV.    W>f.    TENNENT,  JR. 

far  from  Ilagerstown,  Md.,  who  had  been  for  more 
than  a  year,  subject  every  day,  at  the  same  hour,  to 
certain  epileptic  paroxysms,  during  whicii,  she  liad 
the  appearance  of  one  dead,  or  in  a  deep  sleep,  and 
always  came  to  herself,  singing.  And  professed, 
that,  every  day,  she  visited  heaven  ;  and  gave  a  par- 
ticular account  of  what  she  saw  in  the  celestial 
world.  During  the  whole  time  that  this  nervous 
disease  lasted,  the  family  solemnly  declared,  that 
she  ate  nothing,  except  that  she  wet  her  mouth  oc- 
casionally with  a  few  drops  of  sugar  and  water. 
The  description  which  she  gave  of  heaven,  and  her 
passage  thither,  had  a  strong  resemblance  to  Mo- 
hammed's accounts  of  paradise  ;  so  that,  as  he  was 
in  early  life  subject  to  epileptic  fits,  the  writer  has 
been  induced  to  think  it  probable,  that  his  whole 
imposture  had  its  origin  in  the  visions  which  he  ex- 
perienced during  these  paroxysms;  and  that,  at  first, 
being  persuaded  that  he  had  divine  communications, 
he  afterwards  resorted  to  fraud  to  keep  up  his  pre- 
tensions. However  this  may  be,  the  young  woman 
attracted  multitudes  from  a  distance,  who  were  fidly 
persuaded,  that  she  did  really  visit  heaven,  and 
some  weak  people,  who  had  recently  lost  dear 
friends,  come  to  consult  this  girl,  whether  she  saw 
any  such  persons  in  heaven ;  and  for  a  while,  so 
great  was  the  fame  of  her  celestial  visits,  that 
preachers  who  had  visited  her,  publicly  mentioned 
what  they  heard  from  her  lips,  in  their  sermons. 


THE    REV.    WM.    TENNENT,    JR.  225 

On  one  occasion,  a  number  of  fiery  zealots,  under 
the  strong  influence  of  party  spirit,  believing  that 
they  and  they  only  were  the  favourites  of  heaven, 
visited  her  and  seriously  inquired,  which  of  the  sev- 
eral denominations  of  Christians  had  the  approba- 
tion of  Christ.  To  the  great  gratification  of  most, 
they  received  a  signal  rebuke  to  their  sectarian 
spirit;  for  the  young  woman,  looking  sternly  at 
them,  answered,  "  persons  are  not  judged  of  in  hea- 
ven by  their  denomination,  but  by  the  purity  of  their 
hearts,  and  lives."  And  when,  in  their  prayers, 
they  employed  deafening  vociferation,  she  asked 
them  when  they  were  done,  whether  they  thought 
that  their  Maker  was  deaf,  that  they  made  so  much 
noise.  As  many  as  two  hundred  persons  were 
known  to  have  visited  Susannah  Orrendorf,  on  the 
same  day. 

The  writer  has  now  before  him,  a  printed  narra- 
tive of  the  apparent  death  of  Charles  Lackingford, 
Allegheny  county,  Maryland.  This  account  is  con- 
firmed by  the  affidavit  of  four  of  his  neighbours, 
who  declare,  on  oath,  that  they  had  been  acquainted 
with  the  said  Lackingford  for  at  least  twelve  years, 
and  that  he  had  ever  supported  the  character  of  an 
upright,  honest  man,  and  a  good  citizen ;  and  that 
the  utmost  reliance  may  be  placed  on  his  word.  In 
their  affidavit,  before  a  justice  of  the  peace,  these 
four  men,  whose  names  are  given,  declare,  "  That 

on,  or  about  the  1 4th  day  of  August,  1803,  they 

O 


226  THE    REV.    \TM.    TENNENT,    JR. 

were  sent  for  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Charles  Lacking- 
ford  about  six  miles  from  Fort  Cumberland  ;  that 
on  their  arrival,  they  found  said  Lackingford,  lying 
stretched  out  as  dead,  to  all  human  appearance  ;  his 
eyes  closed,  his  hands   clenched,  and   limbs   stiff. 
*'  That  they  were  informed  by  his  family,  tliat  he  had 
died  on  that  morning,  apparently  m  an  apoplexy  : 
That  they  were  solicited  to  render  the  family  assis- 
tance in  discharging  the  last  rites  of  humanity  ;  that 
the  deponents  caused  a  coffin  to  be  made  j  but  that 
on  the  night  between  the  14th  and  15th  of  the  month, 
while  watching  with  the  supposed  corpse,  precisely 
at  12  o'clock,  some  inarticulate  sounds  were  heard 
by  all  the  deponents,  as  proceeding  from  the  abdo- 
men of  the  said  Lackingford  ;  on  which  account,  on 
the  morning  following,  they  deferred  the  intended 
interment.     That  the  sounds  were  again  repeated  at 
12  o'clock,  on  the  noon  of  the  18th,  when  symptoms 
of  returning  life  appeared ;  and  at  a  quarter  after  4 
o'clock,   P.   M.,  the  said  Lackingford  opened  his 
eyes,  and  in  a  violent  voice  exclaimed,  *  where  am 
I  ?'     On  which  he  was  released  from  his  winding- 
sheet,  and  placed  in  bed,  when  he  declared,  that  the 
arcana  of  the  infernal  regions  had  been  opened  to 
him,  and  that  he  had  actually  seen  and  conversed 
■with  devils.     Deponents  further  say,  that  during  the 
four  days  above  stated,  the  body  of  the  said  Lack- 
ingford received  no  nourishment  of  any  kind ;  and 
except  the  noise  above  stated,  was  to  all  appearance, 


THE    REV.    WM.    TENNENT,   JR,  927 

a  dead  corpse  ;  and  deponents  further  say,  that  to 
the  best  of  their  opinion  and  belief,  tJie  trance  of  the 
said  Lackingford  cannot  be  ascribed  to  any  physical 
cause ;  or  to  any  other  than  one  of  the  hidden  and 
mysterious  visitations  of  Providence.  Further  de- 
ponents say  not. 

"  Taken  and  subscribed  before  me, 

«  WILLIAM  GUSHING,  J.  R,  A.  C." 

******* 

*  SEAL.  J 

******* 

We  have  seen  accounts  of  many  instances  of  per- 
sons lying  for  days,  and  even  for  weeks,  in  what 
are  called  trances,  and  of  their  telling  of  very  mar- 
vellous things  which  had  been  seen  by  them,  during 
the  apparent  suspension  of  life ;  but  we  have  selec- 
ted this  account  because  of  its  being  so  well  authen- 
ticated. 

The  man's  own  narrative  of  liis  visit  to  hell,  as 
he  imagined,  occupies  about  twelve  pages.  This 
we  do  not  wish  to  transcribe.  It  serves,  however, 
to  show,  how  differently,  different  persons  are  af- 
fected in  such  a  state  of  syncope.  Mr.  Temient  imag- 
ined himself  in  heaven  ;  so  did  Susannah  Orrendorf ; 
but  Mr.  Lackingford  was  persuaded  that  he  was  in 
hell,  and  held  much  conversation  with  Belphegor, 
the  high  constable  of  the  place,  who  took  great 
pains  to  show  him  all  the  apartments,  where  differ- 
ent classes  of  sinners  were  confined  and  punished. 

It   may,  however,  be  satisfactory   to  hear   Mr. 
02 


228  THE   ni;v.   w.m.  tknnknt,  jh. 

Lackingford's  account  of  liis  former  life,  and  of  the 
circumstances  attending  his  falUng  into  this  trance. 
"  I  am  now,"  says  he,  "  fifty-seven  years  of  age. 
In  my  early  days,  I  was  brought  up  to  the  mercan- 
tile business,  at  a  store  on  Elk  Ridge  Landing,  near 
the  City  of  JJaltimore.  In  this  situation,  I  made  ac- 
quaintance with  most  of  the  fashionable  vices  of 
commercial  life,  and  must  confess,  that  I  indulged 
in  no  small  practice  of  them  ;  but,  however,  thank 
heaven,  without  impairing  my  naturally  athletic 
constitution.  Early  in  the  contest  for  our  glorious 
independence,  I  became  a  soldier,  in  defence  of  my 
country's  rights,  and  in  that  capacity,  continued  to 
fight  her  battles,  until  Great  Britain  was  forced  to 
acknowledge  our  sovereignty. 

'•'  I  am  now  settled  on  my  share  of  land-rights, 
granted  by  congress  for  my  services ;  and  in  the  ca- 
pacity of  a  plain  farmer,  have  earned  my  bread  for 
the  last  twenty  years.  I  never  had  any  ambition  to 
see  my  name  in  print,  or  to  hear  myself  talked  of, 
beyond  the  limits  of  my  little  farm ;  but  I  could  not 
resist  the  solicitations  of  my  neighbours,  to  give  to 
the  world  the  extraordinary  adventures  which  I  ex- 
perienced, during  the  four  days  and  nights,  when 
nature  suspended  her  functions  in  my  system,  and' 
left  the  soul  unclogged  by  the  massy  materials  of  the 
body,  to  roam  at  large  into  the  hidden  regions  of  the 
damned  spirits. 

"On  the  14th   of  August,  1S03,  just  after  sun- 


THE    REV.    W:\r.    TENNENT,  JR.  229 

rise,  as  I  was  stacking  some  hay,  I  heard  a  voice,  as 
if  it  proceeded  from  the  middle  of  the  stack,  exclaim, 
<  Charles,  go  to  thy  bed.'  Terrified  and  struck 
dumb,  I  instantly  threw  down  the  stack,  supposing 
some  one  was  concealed  therein,  but  to  my  still 
greater  amazement,  found  no  one ;  I  looked  all 
around  me ;  no  living  object  was  visible.  I  threw 
myself  on  my  knees,  to  implore  the  aid  of  Provi- 
dence;  but,  alas!  my  power  of  utterance  was  de- 
prived me — my  tongue  refused  its  office.  Every 
limb  trembled  with  fear,  and  still  the  same  voice 
struck  with  redoubled  energy  on  my  astonished  ears. 
I  rose  up, — a  dimness  overshadowed  my  eyes,  and 
I  went  trembling  towards  my  house,  resolved  to 
obey  the  invisible  mandate.  I  had  scarcely  reached 
my  bed,  when  one  of  the  most  welcome  sleeps 
closed  my  eye-lids."  Then  he  goes  on  to  narrate 
what  he  imagined  he  saw  and  heard,  in  the  infernal 
regions. 

The  only  thing  in  the  foregoing  history  of  William 
Tennent,  which  cannot  be  accounted  for,  upon  the 
ordinary  principles  of  human  nature,  is,  the  dreams 
of  the  man  and  his  wife,  which  brought  tliem  from 
Maryland  to  Trenton,  and  whose  testimony  was  ab- 
solutely necessary  to  save  this  good  man  from 
an  ignominious  punishment.  In  this  case,  if  the  facts 
are  true — concerning  which  there  can  be  no  reason- 
able doubt — there  must  have  been  a  supernatural 

interposition.     These  simple  people  could  have  had 
03 


230  THE     REV.    WM.    TKNNENT,    JR. 

no  knowledge  of  what  was  transacting  in  New  Jer- 
sey ;  and  when  they  came  to  Trenton,  they  knew 
not  for  what  purpose  their  presence  was  needed.  In 
all  ages  of  the  world,  suggestions  and  impressions 
have  been  made  in  dreams,  which  have  been  im- 
portant to  the  safety  or  interest  of  certain  persons, 
for  whose  sake  the  communication  was  made.  And 
we  learn  from  the  liiblc,  that  dreams  of  this  super- 
natural kind,  have  not  been  confined  to  the  pious, 
but  have  been  granted  to  heathen  kings,  and  other 
persons  who  knew  not  the  true  God,  as  in  the  ca.se 
of  the  butler  and  baker,  of  Pharaoh,  and  Nebuchad- 
nezzar. Such  dreams  are  still  on  certain  occasions 
granted,  probably  by  the  ministry  of  angels,  for 
the  admonitionor  direction  of  the  people  of  God; 
or  for  reasons  unknown  to  us.  Although  it  is 
true,  "in  the  multitude  of  dreams  there  are 
divers  varieties,"  and  although  false  prophets 
pretended  to  receive  communications  in  dreams, 
and  at  this  time,  many  persons  are  superstitiously 
affected  by  dreams,  yet  the  truth  of  the  fact  ought 
not  to  be  denied,  that  even  in  our  day,  dreams  are 
sometimes  admonitory,  and  seem  to  preserve  certain 
persons  from  evils,  which  they  could  not  otherwise 
escape.  God  has  no  where  informed  us,  that  this 
mode  of  communication  with  men  should  entirely 
cease ;  and  if  there  are,  however  rarely,  such  com- 
munications to  certain  persons,  in  sleep,  it  furnishes 
some  proof  of  the  existence  of  a  world  of  spirits;  in- 


THE    REV.    WM.    TENNENT,    JR.  231 

visible  to  us,  but  near;  and  that  we  are  surrounded, 
and  often  guarded,  by  kind  angels,  who  minister 
unto  us,  and  preserve  us  from  many  evils  of  which 
Ave  are  not  aware.     Such  dreams  are  not  properly 
called  miraculous,  nor  can  the  persons  to  whom  they 
are  vouchsafed,  be  said  to  bo  inspired.     They  are 
merely  extraordinary  intimations  to  the  mind,  pro- 
bably as  was  said,  by  the  agency  of  guardian  angels. 
The  only  unaccountable  thing  in  this  whole  business 
is,  that  JNIr.  Tenncnt  and  his  fellow  travellers,  had  not 
sent  off  immediately  to  this  distant  place  for  wit- 
nesses ;  for  there  were  many  there  who  had  heard 
him  and  Mr.  Rowland  preach.     Conscious  of  inno- 
cence, they  seem  to  have  apprehended  no  danger ; 
and  when  one  of  their  number  was  found  guilty, 
and  actually  punished  for  perjury,  there  might  not 
have  been  time  to  bring  persons  from  such  a  distance. 
But  in  regard  to  Mr.  Tennnet,  he  was  not  only  con- 
scious of  innocence,  but  had  such  unshaken  confidence 
in  God,  that  he  feared  nothing  ;  being  fully  persuaded 
that  He  would,  in  some  way,  interpose  by  his  provi- 
dence, for  his  deliverance ;  or  would  overrule  his 
unjust  condemnation  and  punishment,  for  his  own 
glory.     This  last  seems  to  have  been  especially  on 
his  mind ;  for  we  are  informed,  that  he  had  prepared 
a  sermon  for  the   occasion,  to  be  preached  while 
standing  on  the  pillory. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

ANECDOTES  OF  REV.  WM.  TENNENT. 

Mr.  Tcnnent  loses  some  of  his  toes — Attempted  explanation — 
Anecdotes  supplied  by  Dr.  ■  illcr — Anecdotes  from  the  Assembly'* 
Magazine,  with  an  account  of  his  interview  with  Murray  the  Uni- 
versalist. 

We  have  never  known  a  man  in  modern  times, 
concerning  whom  so  many  extraordinary  things  are 
related.  The  most  important  of  these  are  contained 
in  Dr.  Boudinot's  memoir  of  his  life ;  but  many 
others  were  omitted ;  either  because  he  judged  them 
of  not  sufficient  importance  to  be  recorded  in  such  a 
work,  or  because,  writing  for  a  periodical,  he  was 
hmited  as  to  the  space  which  the  memoir  was  al- 
lowed to  occupy.  Many  of  these  anecdotes,  how- 
ever, he  took  a  pleasure  in  relaiing  in  conversation 
with  his  friends;  and  tiiose  which  have  been  kindly 
furnished  by  my  friend  and  colleague,  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Miller,  were  received  from  him.  I  have  been 
in  some  doubt  about  introducing  the  contents  of  this 
chapter  into  the  volmnc  ;  but  as  the  anecdotes  here 
given,  are  all  believed  to  be  anthentic,  it  was  thought 
that  they  would  tend  to  exhibit  in  a  more  distinct 


THE    REV.    VVM.    TEXXENT,    JR.  233 

light,  the  true  character  of  this  extraordinary  man. 
Many  others  have  been  current  in  his  vicinity,  but 
as  they  have  been  handed  down  by  tradition,  they 
have  not  been  considered  as  sufficiently  authenti- 
cated, to  be  inserted  in  this  memoir ;  and  some  of 
them  are  of  too  ludicrous  a  nature  to  have  a  place  in  a 
serious  narrative. 

There  is  one  remarkable  thing  which  happened  to 
Mr.  Tennent,  not  recorded  in  the  memoir  written  by 
Dr.  Boudinot,  which  has  to  most  appeared  more  in- 
explicable than  any  other  event  of  his  life.  One 
night,  as  the  story  goes,  when  Mr.  Tennent  was 
asleep  in  his  own  bed,  he  was  waked  up  by  a  sharp 
pain  in  the  region  of  the  toes  of  one  of  his  feet ;  and 
upon  getting  a  light,  and  examining  the  foot,  it  was 
discovered  that  several  of  his  toes  had  been  cut 
entirely  off,  as  if  by  some  sharp  instrument.  But 
though  the  wounded  part  was  bleeding,  nothing 
was  seen  of  the  exscinded  members ;  nor  any 
means  by  which  such  a  dismemberment  could  have 
been  effected. 

In  the  room  was  found  no  animal,  rat,  cat,  or  dog, 
although  diligent  search  was  made ;  neither  could 
there  be  discovered  any  sharp  instrument,  by  which 
such  a  wound  could  have  been  inflicted.  Mr.  Ten- 
nent himself,  confidently  believed  that  the  injury  was 
done  by  the  prince  of  darkness,  of  whose  power 
and  malice  he  was  deeply  convinced.  Others  sup- 
posed, that  it  must  have  been  effected  by  some  do- 


234  THE    RKV.    WM.    TENNENT,    Jit. 

mestic  animal,  which  might  have  made  its  escape 
before  a  Hght  was  ol)t;iinc(l ;  as  both  rats  and  cats 
have  been  known  violently  to  attack  and  wound 
persons  while  asleep.  But  neither  of  these  explana- 
tions give  satisfaction.  For  as  to  Satan,  it  cannot  be 
doubted  that  his  malice  is  great,  and  that  it  is  espe- 
cially directed  against  holy  men,  and  particularly 
faithful  ministers.  But  we  have  no  evidence  that  he 
is  now  permitted  to  injure  or  wound  the  bodies  of 
the  saints.  Our  fathers  were  more  credulous  on  this 
point  than  we  are,  and  we  may  dismiss  all  further 
notice  of  this  account,  as  an  opinion  properly  be- 
longing to  a  former  age.  And  as  to  the  idea,  that 
it  might  have  been  the  bite  of  a  hungry  and  vora- 
cious rat,  or  mad  cat,  the  thing  is  very  improbable. 
Neither  of  these  animals  could  have,  with  their 
teeth,  severed  the  toes  from  the  foot  so  suddenly ; 
and  in  that  case,  the  wound  would  have  had  marks 
of  the  gnawing  of  such  an  animal ;  whereas  it  was 
said  to  have  had  the  appearance  of  being  cut  by  a 
sharp  instrument.  Perhaps  the  difficulty  of  account- 
ing for  the  accident,  prevented  Dr.  Boudinot  from 
inserting  the  story  in  I\Ir.  Tennent's  memoir :  for 
there  can  be  no  doubt  that  he  was  well  acquainted 
with  the  fact,  and  all  its  circumstances. 

The  author  of  this  compilation  has  the  more 
readily  consented  to  record  the  event,  because  he 
has  a  hypothesis  by  which  he  thinks  he  can  account 
for  such  an  accident. 


THE  REV.  WM.  TENNENT,  JR.        235 

Upon  a  survey  of  the  circumstances  of  the  affair, 
it  seems  highly  probable,  that  ]\Ir.  Tcnnent  was  a 
somnambulist,  and  received  this  injury  by  treading, 
in  his  rambles,  on  some  sharp  instrument;  soon  after 
which  he  returned  to  his  bed,  but  did  not  feel  the 
pain  of  the  wound  until  he  awoke.  It  is  well 
known,  that  persons  in  this  kind  of  sleep,  are  very 
little  susceptible  of  the  feeling  of  pain  from  any  ac- 
cident of  this  sort ;  and  they  seldom  ever  retain  any 
recollection  of  the  exercises  of  their  minds  at  the 
time,  or  of  the  scenes  through  which  they  have 
passed.  Many  instances  might  be  given  of  persons 
receiving  bodily  hurts  while  in  this  state,  without 
being  awakened  thereby  ;  and  apparently,  without 
any  feeling  of  pain  from  wounds  which  wonld  cause 
very  acute  suffering  to  one  awake.  And  it  may  not 
be  improper  to  refer  for  proof  of  this,  to  undoubted 
facts,  witnessed  by  many,  in  regard  to  persons  in  a 
mesmeric  sleep,  who  undergo  surgical  operations, 
which  give  intense  pain  in  a  common  state,  without 
any  appearance  of  sensibility. 

The  writer  recollects  to  have  heard  of  an  instance 
precisely  in  point,  which  occurred  in  Philadelphia, 
in  relation  t )  a  son  of  the  late  Dr.  Sproat,  who  being 
a  somnambulist,  got  out  of  his  room  at  a  window 
on  a  shed,  and  jumped  on  the  ground,  but  lighting 
on  something  sharp,  cut  his  foot ;  and  being  soon 
missed,  was  pursued  by  his  bloody  tracks  on  the 
snow,  with    Avhir-h    the    ground    was   at    the    time 


236  THE    HKV.    WM.    TKNNENT,    Jn. 

covered.  But  he  was  not  awakened  from  his  sleep 
by  the  wound  which  he  received.  Oilier  cases  of 
serious  injury  sustained  in  the  night  by  persons  who 
could  give  no  account  how  they  occurred,  have 
fallen  under  the  notice  of  the  writer,  and  which  can 
only  be  accounted  for  by  this  hypothesis.  If 
it  be  alleged,  that  Mr,  Wm.  Tennent  was  not 
known  to  be  a  somnambulist,  it  may  be  answered, 
that  he  certainly  had  a  nervous  system  strung  in  a 
very  peculiar  manner,  and  many  are  subject  to  this 
kind  of  sleep,  who  never  know  anything  about  it. 
And  wo  would  adduce  the  fact  under  consideration, 
as  a  strong  presumptive  evidence  of  the  thing  sup- 
posed. 

Anecdotes  of  the  Rev.  William  Tennent,  kindly 
communicated  to  the  author,  by  the  Rev.  Doctor 
Miller,  of  Princeton. 

*•  This  remarkable  man  was  greatly  distinguished 
for  decision  of  character.  JNIany  good  men  of  his 
day,  had  more  intellectual  vigour  than  he  possessed. 
But  few  of  his  contemporaries  possessed  as  much 
as  he  did  of  that  moral  courage, — that  fixedness  of 
purpose,  and  that  firmness  of  Christian  heroism, 
which  could  not  be  turned  to  the  right  or  the  left 
This  trait  in  his  character  was  once  very  strongly 
exemplified  at  a  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Trustees 
of  the  College  of  New  Jersey.  It  is  well  known  that 
Mr.  Tennent  was  one  of  the  most  active  and  zealous 
of  the  founders  of  that  College  ;  and  that  the  great 


THK    REV.    WM.    TENNENT,    JR.  237 

object  of  those  worthy  men,  in  all  the  labour  and 
expense  which  they  incurred  in  its  establishment, 
was  to  train  up  a  pious  and  learned  ministry  for  the 
Presbyterian  Church.  For  the  attainment  of  this 
object,  and  to  guard  the  College  against  every 
species  of  perversion  or  abuse,  he  was  ever  on  the 
watch,  and  especially  to  promote  the  religious  inter- 
ests of  the  Institution. 

"  Soon  after  William  Franklin  (sou  of  Benjamin) 
was  appointed  Governor  of  the  Province  of  New 
Jersey,  he  took  his  seat,  according  to  the  provision 
of  the  Charter,  as  ex  officio  President  of  the  Board. 
On  one  of  the  early  occasions  of  his  presiding  in  qual- 
ity of  Governor,  after  coming  to  that  office,  he  formed 
a  plan  of  wheedling  the  Board  into  an  agreement  to 
have  their  charter  so  modified,  as  to  place  the  Insti- 
tution more  entirely  in  the  power  of  the  Provincial 
government,  and  to  receive  in  exchange  for  this 
concession,  some  inconsiderable  pecuniary  advan- 
tage. The  Gov^ernor  made  this  proposal  in  a  plaus- 
ible speech,  and  was  receiving  the  thanks  of  several 
short  sighted  and  sanguine  members  of  the  Board 
of  Trustees — wlien  Mr.  Tennent,  who  had  been 
prevented  by  some  dispensation  of  Providence  from 
coming  earlier,  appeared  in  the  Board,  and  took  his 
seat.  After  listening  for  a  few  minutes,  and  hear- 
ing from  one  and  another  of  his  brother  Trustees, 
the  nature  of  the  Governor's  plan  and  offer  ;  after 
several  of  them  had,  in  his  presence,  recognized  the 


238  Tiir,   UKV.  WM.  tennent,  jr. 

Governor's  proposal  as  highly  favourable,  and  such 
ns  ought  to  be  accepted ;  and  praised  '  his  Excel- 
lency's generous  proposal,'  as  what  all  must  think 
well  of — Mr.  Tennent,  looking  round  the  Board  with 
the  sharp  and  piercing  eye,  for  Avhich  he  was  re- 
markable when  strongly  excited,  rose  and  said : 
<  Brethren  !  are  you  mad  ?  I  say,  brethren,  are 
you  mad  ?  Rather  than  accept  the  offer  of  the 
President,  I  would  set  fire  to  the  College  edifice,  at 
its  four  corners,  and  run  away  in  the  light  of  the 
flames.'  Such  was  the  effect  of  this  rebuff  from  a 
Trustee  of  such  knoAvn  honesty,  influence  and  deci- 
sion, that  little  more  was  said.  The  proposal  was 
laid  on  the  table,  and  never  more  called  up. 

"Mr.  Tennent  was  full  of  expedients  for  winning 
souls  to  Christ.  He  was  remarkably  fond  of  horses  ; 
had  a  good  deal  of  skill  in  the  choice  and  manage- 
ment of  them  ;  and  was  seldom  known  to  ride  or  to 
keep  an  inferior  one.  There  was  a  young  man  in 
his  congregation,  the  son  of  one  of  his  church-mem- 
bers, also  distinguished  for  his  attachment  to  horses, 
and  for  his  skill  in  horsemanship.  Mr.  Tennent 
was  very  desirous  of  gaining  access  to  this  yonng 
man,  and  of  securing  his  confidence.  But  after 
every  effort  to  accomplish  this  object,  was  disap- 
pointed ;  the  young  man,  trembling  at  the  thought 
of  being  addressed  on  the  subject  of  religion,  avoided 
his  pastor  with  the  utmost  vigilance  ;  escaped  fi-om 
his  father's  house  whenever  Mr.  Tennent  called  ; 


THE    REV,    WM.    TENNENT,    JR.  239 

and  in  every  possible  way  evaded  an  interview 
witli  him.  Mr.  Tenncnt  observed  this,  and  resorted 
to  every  contrivance  in  his  power  to  overcome  the 
young  man's  aversion  to  his  company.  But  in 
vain.  Things  went  on  in  this  way  for  a  considera- 
ble time.  In  the  mean  while  JMr.  Tennent's  desire 
for  an  interview  became  more  intense,  from  hearing 
that  the  young  man  had  an  active  mind,  and  an 
amiable  temper,  and  was  considered  as,  in  most 
respects,  very  promising  by  those  who  knew  him 
best.  One  day,  when  Mr.  Tennent  was  riding  out 
in  his  course  of  family  visitation,  on  a  remarkably 
fleet  horse,  he  saw  this  young  man  about  a  hundred 
yards  before  him,  coming  out  from  a  neighbour's 
gate,  and  going  toward  his  father's  house.  Mr. 
Tennent  immediately  quickened  the  pace  of  his 
horse,  for  the  purpose  of  overtaking  him.  The 
young  man,  looking  back  and  seeing  Mr.  Tennent 
coming,  did  the  same.  Each  spurred  on  his  horse, 
until  the  contest  became  a  race  at  full  speed.  After 
running  in  this  manner  between  one  and  two  miles, 
Mr.  Tennent,  having  much  the  fleeter  horse,  over- 
took the  young  man,  and,  on  coming  up  to  him, 
said,  in  a  very  afi'able,  pleasant  manner,  '  Well 
Johnny,  I  thought  I  should  overtake  you.  I  see 
you  ride  a  good  animal ;  but  I  had  a  notion  that 
mine  could  beat  him.'  He  then  entered  into  fa- 
miliar conversation  with  the  young  man,  adapting 
all  his  remarks  to  what  he  supposed  to  be  his  favor- 


240  TUli    REV.     W.M.    TENXEN'T,    JR. 

ite  pursuits  and  topics.  After  riding  a  mile  or  two 
together,  Mr.  Tcnncnt  said  to  him,  when  they  were 
about  to  separate,  *  Johnny,  come  and  see  nne.  I 
shall  be  very  glad  to  sec  you ;  I  know  you  love  a 
good  horse,  I  think  I  have  some  horses  and  colts, 
that  will  please  you.  It  will  give  me  real  pleasure 
to  show  them  to  you.'  With  this  invitation  and 
these  remarks,  they  parted.  In  a  few  days  the 
young  man,  greatly  pleased  with  the  manner  in 
which  Mr.  Tennent  had  treated  him,  accepted  his 
invitation,  and  called  at  his  house.  Mr.  Tennent 
fulfilled  his  promise  ;  took  him  through  his  stables, 
and  round  his  farm,  and  entertained  him  greatly  to 
his  gratification,  without  saying  one  word  to  him  of 
religion.  The  young  man  no  longer  shunned  his 
company,  but  put  himself  in  his  way,  not  only  with- 
out fear,  but  with  pleasure,  whenever  he  had  an 
opportunity.  Mr.  Tennent  very  soon  took  occasion, 
after  gaining  his  confidence,  to  address  him  on  the 
most  important  of  all  subjects;  and  it  was  not  long 
before  he  listened  with  serious  attention ;  became 
hopefully  the  subject  of  renewing  grace  ;  and  was 
soon  united  with  the  church  of  Christ. 

"  This  excellent  man  was  remarkably  skilful,  dis- 
criminating and  faithful  in  dealing  with  those  who 
came  to  him  professing  to  be  in  a  state  of  anxiety 
or  inquiry  respecting  their  salvation.  He  was  once 
visited  by  a  female,  advanced  in  life,  one  of  his 
stated  hearers,   who  had  not   borne   a  very    good 


THK    KEV.    \VM,    TENNENT,    JR.  241 

character,  but  who  now  professed  to  be  deeply  anx- 
ious concernmg  her  eternal  welfare.  She  wept, 
acknowledged  herself  a  great  sinner,  and  abounded 
in  language  of  severe  self-crimination,  and  profes- 
sions of  deep  penitence.  Mr.  Tennent  thought  he 
saw  in  her  whole  air  and  manner  something  like 
over-acting,  which,  taken  in  connexion  with  her 
former  life,  led  him  to  suspect,  that  her  professions 
were  not  very  sincere.  He,  therefore,  determined 
at  once  to  put  them  to  the  test,  and  said :  "  Mrs. 

you  speak  of  yourself  as  a  great  sinner :  that 

is  just  what  we  have  always  thought  of  you.  I 
have  no  doubt  it  is  very  much  as  you  say."  The 
woman,  Avho  was  indeed  a  hypocrite,  fully  expect- 
ing to  be  hailed  with  pleasure  and  confidence  as  a 
genuine  convert  by  her  minister,  was  thrown  off 
her  guard  by  this  rebuff,  and  replied  with  strong 
resentment :  '  It's  no  such  thing.  I'm  not  chargea- 
ble with  these  sins,  I'm  as  good  as  you  any  day  ;' 
and  innnediately  left  the  house ;  and  with  this  in- 
terview dismissed  her  serious  impressions. 

"  At  another  time  Mr.  Tennent,  in  riding  out, 
stopped  opposite  the  door  of  a  small  tavern  in  hi^ 
neighbourhood  to  make  some  inquiry.  While  wait- 
ing a  moment  to  obtain  the  desired  information,  a 
man,  evidently  intoxicated  with  strong  drink,  came 
out  of  the  house,  and  accosted  him  by  name.  Find- 
ing that  jNlr.  Tennent  did  not  return  his  salutation 
with  the  readiness  and  familiarity  of  an  acquaint- 


2  42  TlIK     REV.     W.M,     IKNMiNT,    JK. 

ancc,  he  said  :  '  Mr.  Tennent,  I  believe  you  do  not 
know  me  ;  why,  yon  converted  me  a  few  months 
ago.'  'Ah!  my  friend/  said  Mr.  Tennent,  'its 
like  some  of  my  bungUng  work.  If  the  Spirit  of 
God  had  converted  you,  we  should  not  have  seen 
you  in  this  situation.'  " 

In  the  same  volume  of  the  Assembly's  Missiona- 
ry Magazine  which  contains  the  biography  of  the 
Rev.  William  Tennent,  jr.,  we  have,  from  another 
hand,  the  three  following  anecdotes. 

"  He  was  crossing  the  bay  from  New  York  to 
Elizabethtown,  in  company  with  two  gentlemen, 
who  had  no  great  fondness  for  clergymen,  and  who 
cautiously  avoided  him  for  some  time  after  getting 
on  board  the  boat.  As  he  usually  spoke  loudly, 
they  overheard  what  he  said,  and  finding  him  a 
cheerful  companion,  who  could  converse  upon  other 
subjects  besides  religion,  they  ventured  a  little 
nearer  to  him  ;  and  at  length  they  and  he  engaged 
in  a  conversation  upon  politics.  One  of  his  congre- 
gation, who  was  a  fellow-passenger,  happening  to 
overhear  a  remark  he  made,  stepped  up  to  him,  and 
said,  '  Mr.  Tennent,  please  to  spiritualize  that.' 
<  Spiritualize  that,'  said  Mr.  T.  '  you  don't  know 
what  you  are  talking  about.'  'Why,  sir,  there  is 
no  harm  in  talking  religion,  is  Uiere  ?'  '  Yes,' 
replied  Mr.  T.  '  there  is  a  great  deal  of  harm  in  it ; 
and  it  is  such  good  folks  as  you,  that  always  lug  re- 
ligion in,  by  head  and  shoulders,  whether  it  is  pro- 


THE    KKV.    WM.    TK.NNKNT,    JH.  243 

per  or  not,  that  hurt  the  cause ;  if  you  want  to  talk 
rehgion,  you  know  where  I  Vive,  and  I  know  where 
you  Uve,  and  you  may  call  at  my  house,  or  I  will 
call  at  yours,  and  I  will  talk  religion  with  you  till 
you  are  tired ;  but  this  is  not  the  time  to  talk  reli- 
gion ;  we  are  talking  politics.'  This  reply,  and 
his  conduct  in  other  respects,  so  much  ingratiated 
Mr.  Tennent  with  the  two  gentlemen,  as  to  furnish 
him  with  an  opportunity  for  advantageously  intro- 
ducing conversation  upon  more  important  subjects  ; 
and  the  younger  of  the  two  was  so  much  pleased, 
that  on  their  arrival  at  Elizabethtown  Point,  he  in- 
sisted upon  J\Ir.  Tennent  taking  his  seat  in  a  chair, 
and  he  walked  from  the  Point  to  Elizabethtown, 
through  a  muddy  road,  which,  to  a  person  of  Mr. 
Tcnnent's  age,  would  have  been  very  inconvenient^ 
if  not  impracticable. 

"  At  New  York,  Mr.  Tennent  went  to  hear  a  ser- 
mon delivered  by  a  transient  clergyman,  who  was 
often  and  well  spoken  of,  but  whose  manner  was 
singular,  and  who  frequently  introduced  odd  con- 
ceits into  his  sermons,  which  tended  to  excite  mirth, 
rather  than  to  edification.  Upon  leaving  the  church 
a  friend  asked  JNIr.  Tcnnent's  opinion  of  the  ser- 
mon. He  said,  it  made  him  think  of  a  man  who 
should  take  a  bag,  and  put  into  it  some  of  the  very 
best  superfine  wheat  Hour,  a  greater  quantity  of 
Indian  meal,  and  some  arsenic,  and  mix  them  all 
together :  a  part  of  the  sermon  was  of  the  very  best 


24  t  THE    KEV.    \VM,    TKNNEXT,    JR. 

quality  ;  more  of  it  was  coarse,  but  very  wholesome 
food  ;  and  some  of  it  rank  poison." 

"Upon  another  occasion,  he  went  with  a  friend 
to  hear  an  illiterate  carpenter  preach  at  New  York ; 
and  it  appeared  to  him  that  the  man  denied  the  doc- 
trine of  the  pci-scvcrance  of  the  saints.  The  next 
morning  Mr.  Tennent  called  upon  his  friend,  and 
asked  if  it  appeared  so  to  bim  ?  Upon  his  friend's 
replying  in  the  affirmative,  Mr.  Tennent  said,  "  then 
I  must  go  and  talk  with  him,  and  you  must  go 
along  with  me."  His  friend  begged  to  be  excused, 
but  Mr.  Temient  insisted  upon  his  going,  as  he  had 
heard  the  doctrine  denied.  They  found  the  car- 
penter at  breakfast.  JVIr.  Tennent  asked  if  he  was 
the  poison  who  had  preached  last  evening  ?  he  said 
he  Avas.  Then,  said  INIr.  Tennent  '  it  appeared  to 
me  that  you  denied  the  doctrine  of  the  perseverance 
of  the  saints  ;  did  I  understand  you  rightly?'  <  Yes, 
sir,  be  sure  I  did,'  said  the  carpenter ;  <  that  is  a 
doctrine  v/hich  no  man  in  his  senses  can  believe.' 
'  I'll  tell  you,'  replied  Mr.  Temient  '  that  is  the 
most  precious  doctrine  in  all  the  book  of  God :  I 
will  give  up  my  life  before  1  will  give  that  up  :  I 
must  talk  with  you  about  it.'  The  man  alleged 
that  he  was  a  mechanic,  who  depended  upon  his 
trade  for  the  support  of  his  lamily,  and  could  not 
stay  to  htik ;  he  must  mind  his  business.  '  I  am 
glad  to  hear  that,'  said  Mr.  Temient  '  I  love  to  see 
men  diligent  in  their  lawful  callings:  it  is  their  duty  ; 


THE    REV.    W.-NI.    TEXXEXT,  JR.  245 

but  yours  is  of  such  a  nature  that  you  can  work 
and  talk  at  the  same  time ;  and  I  will  go  with  you 
to  where  your  business  lies,  so  that  your  time  shall 
not  be  wasted  :'  the  carpenter  said  he  did  not  want 
to  talk,  took  his  hat,  and  abruptly  went  off.  Mr. 
Tennent  followed  him :  the  man  walked  faster  : 
Mr.  Tennent  quickened  his  pace.  At  length  the 
man  ran  ;  so  did  Mr.  Tennent.  But  the  carpenter 
was  too  fleet  for  his  pursuer  ;  by  his  speed  he 
evaded  his  arguments,  and  remained  in  error." 

The  following  anecdote  has  been  handed  down 
by  tradition,  and  in  substance  is  confirmed  by  a  one- 
sided account  of  the  affair,  contained  in  the  life  of 
Murray  the  Universalist,who  is  the  person  concerned. 
Mr.  Tenncnt's  zeal  for  the  truth,  and  opposition  to 
what  he  viewed  to  be  error,  were  very  strong ;  and 
were  manifested  whenever  an  occasion  occurred 
which  called  for  their  exercise.  It  so  happened  that 
Mr.  Murray,  an  Englishman,  who  had  adopted  from 
Relly,  the  doctrines  of  Universalism,  was  landed  on 
the  Jersey  shore,  not  very  remote  from  Mr.  Ten- 
nent's  residence.  Though  he  had  not  been  a  Uni- 
versalist  preacl'ier  in  England,  yot  having  while  in 
connexion  with  the  Methodists,  both  in  Ireland  and 
England,  been  accustomed  to  public  speaking  in  the 
way  of  exhortation,  he  was  induced  upon  his  landing 
at  a  place  on  the  Jersey  shore,  called  "  Good  Luck," 
to  commence  preaching  to  the  people.     At  first  his 

doctrine  of  universal  salvation  was  not  clearly  and 
?2 


21G  Tni:   in;v.  w.m.  'iknnent,  jr. 

openly  aniioudcod,  but  ratlicr  covertly  iiisinnnted. 
Possessing  sonic  wit  and  eloquence  Ik;  attracted 
many  hearers,  and  travelled  about  the  country,  ad- 
dressing the  people  wherever  he  could  get  an  op- 
portunity. Soon  after  he  commenced  this  career, 
he  came  into  the  congregation  of  Freehold,  and 
lodged  wilii  one  of  Mr.  Tennent's  hearers.  As  soon 
as  this  watchful  pastor  heard  that  the  wolf  had  en- 
tered among  the  sheep  of  his  flock,  taking  with  him 
some  of  his  neighbours,  he  went  to  the  house  where 
Mr.  JMurray  was  staying;  and  demanded  of  him 
'by  what  authority  he  had  assumed  the  office  of 
preacher.'  Murray  answered  him,  by  asking,  "  by 
what  authority  he  asked  him  such  a  question."  An 
altercation  ensued,  Mr.  Tenncnt  continuing  peremp- 
torily to  demand  his  authority  to  preach,  and  he  as 
pertinaciously  evading  a  direct  answer.  It  does  not 
appear,  however,  from  Mr.  Murray's  account,  tlie 
only  written  one  which  we  have  seen,  that  Mr. 
Tennent  then  knew  that  he  was  a  Universalist ;  for 
in  the  interview  nothing  was  said  on  that  subject; 
nor  on  any  other  point  of  doctrine.  It  would  seem 
that  Mr.  Tennent  considered  him  as  an  irregular, 
unauthorized  itinerant,  who,  not  being  in  connexion 
with  any  denomination  of  Christians,  ought  not  to 
be  encouraged.  And,  this,  according  to  Mr.  Mur- 
ray's own  account,  was  the  exact  state  of  the  case. 
He  stood  entirely  alone  ;  and  professed  to  hold  ec- 
clesiastical coiincxiou  with  no  body  on  earth ;  yet 


THE    REV.    WM.    TENNEXT,    JR.  247 

this  man  became  the  fomidor  of  a  large  sect,  in  this 
country;  for  the  Universahsts  acknowledge  him  as 
a  father.  But  as  the  course  of  error  is  always 
downward,  most  of  his  followers  have  departed  far 
from  his  opinions,  on  other  doctrinal  points,  as  ap- 
pears by  his  life. 


P5 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


MEMOIR    OF  THE    REV.   CHARLES   TEN- 

NENT. 


Birth — Immigration — Education — Settlement  in  the  ministry  at 
Whiteclay  Cieeli — Great  revival  under  the  preaching  of  Mr. 
Whitefield — Removal  and  death. 

From  an  original  document,  a  small  memoran- 
dum-book, kept  by  the  Rev.  William  Tennent,  sen., 
we  learn,  that  his  fourth  son,  Charles,  was  born  at 
Colerain,  in  the  counfj-  of  Down,  on  the  third  day 
of  May,  in  the  year  1711,  and  was  baptized  by  the 
Rev.  Richard  Donnell.  At  the  time  of  his  father's 
emigration  from  Ireland,  he  was,  therefore,  a  boy 
of  seven  years  of  age.*     He,  as  well  as  his  older 

*  By  the  memoranda  referred  to  above,  we  are  able  to 
authenticate  some  things  relating  to  the  founder  of  the  Log 
College,  and  to  correct  some  other  things,  inserted  in  the 
history.  This  document  came  into  the  possession  of  the 
editor,  since  the  first  part  of  this  volume  was  printed.  We 
learn  from  the  forementioned  autograph,  that  the  Rev. 
William  Tennent,  sen,,  was  married  on  the  15th  day  of 
May,  1702,  in  the  county  of  Down,  in  the  north  of  Ireland  ; 
that  he  Avas  ordained  a  deacon  in  the  Episcopal  Church  of 
Ireland  on  the  first  day  of  July,  1704  ;  and  ordained  priest, 
or  presbyter  in  the  same,  on  th«  22d  day  of  Septembsr,  1706, 


THE    REV.    CHARLES    TENNENT.  249 

brotliers,  received  his  education  under  the  paternal 
roof,  or  rather  in  the  Log  College.  He  appears, 
however,  to  have  been  less  distinguished  than  either 
of  his  brothers  ;  but  seems  to  have  been  a  respecta- 
ble minister  of  the  gospel,  and  was  early  settled  in 
the  Presbyterian  congregation  of  Whiteclay  Creek, 
in  the  state  of  Delaware.  Soon  after  his  settlement, 
in  this  place,  the  great  revival  under  the  preaching 
of  Whitefield  commenced,  and  was  very  powerful 
in  this  congregation.  During  this  remarkable  sea- 
son of  divine  influence,  Mr.  Whitefield  spent  some 
days  with  JNlr.  Charles  Tennent,  and  assisted  him  in 
the  administration  of  the  Lord's  Supper  ;  preaching 
to  vast  multitudes  of  people  every  day  of  the  solemni- 
ty, which  continued  four  days,  according  to  custom. 

The  dates  of  the  birth  of  his  children  arc,  Gilbert  Tennent 
bora  in  the  county  of  Armagh,  on  the  5th  October,  1703,  and 
baptized  the  following  day. 

William  was  born  in  the  county  of  Antrim,  on  the  olh  day 
of  January,  1705. 

John  was  born  in  the  county  of  Antrim,  on  the  12th  of 
September,  1706,  and  was  baptized  the  following  day. 

Charles,  was  born  in  the  county  of  Down,  on  the  3d  day 
of  May,  1711. 

Eleanor  was  born  in  the  county  of  Down,  on  the  27th  of 
December,  1708. 

Mr.  \V,  Tennent,  sen.,  arrived  with  his  family,  in  Phila- 
dclphia,  September,  171S. 

On  the  22d  of  November,  1718,  he  was  settled  in  the 
parish  of  East  Chester,  New  York.  And  on  the  3d  of  May, 
1720,  removed  to  the  town  of  Bedford,  New  York. 

These  are  the  only  memoranda  of  any  importance,  in 
this  docunicnt. 


250  ini;  «kv.  chari.s    iknnknt. 

This  iiifonnatioii,  tlio  writer  oblaincd,  many  years 
ago,  from  one  of  the  subjects  of  the  revival,  Mrs. 
Douglass,  the  sister  of  Charles  Thompson,  Sec'y  of 
the  continental  congress,  and  grandmother  of  the 
late  Rev.  James  Douglass,  of  Fayetteville,  North 
Carolina,  so  highly  esteemed  as  a  spiritual,  search- 
ing, evangelical  preacher.     This  old  lady  appeared 
to  me  to  be  as  eminently  pious,  as  any  person  I  ever 
knew.     She  informad  me,  that  while  Mr.  White- 
field  spoke  at  the  tables,  in  administering  the  sacra- 
ment, he  poured  forth  such  a  flood  of  tears,  that  his 
cambric  handkerchief  was  wetted  as  if  it  had  been 
dipped  in  water.     She  spoke  of  that  day  as  by  far 
the  most  glorious  she  had  ever  witnessed.     Her  ac- 
count of  the  Rev.  Charles  Tennent,  was,  that  he 
was  a  plain,  good  preacher ;  but  not  distinguished 
for  great  abilities.     I  was  surprized  to  find  that  this 
pious  old  lady  was  no  longer  a  member  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church,  but  had  long  ago,  joined  the  com- 
munion of  the  Seceders.     Upon  enquiry  it  appeared, 
that  this  change  had  been  made  by  her  and  some 
others,  in  consequence   of  the  union  entered  into 
with  the  Old  Side,  in   1758.     The  congregation  of 
Whiteclay  Creek,  of  which  IVIr.  Tennent  was  the 
pastor,  was  situated  in  the  neighboiu-hood  of  some 
congregations,  the  ministers  and  members  of  which 
opposed  the  revival,  and  represented  the  whole  as  a 
delusion  of  the  devil. 
The  friends,  and  especially  the  subjects  of  the  re- 


THE    REV.    CHARLES    TENXEXT.  251 

vival,  could  not  but  consider  these  opposers,  as  the 
enemies  of  vital  piety,  and,  therefore,  felt  no  dispo- 
sition to  hold  any  fellowship  with  them.  They 
were,  therefore,  astonished  and  offended,  when  they 
understood  that  a  union  between  the  two  parties 
had  been  consummated.  As  soon  as  Mr.  Tennent 
returned  from  the  synod,  in  Philadelpha,  where  the 
union  had  been  agreed  on,  Mrs.  Douglass  went  to 
him,  and  expostulated  with  him  on  the  subject, 
"Oh!  Mr.  Tennent,"  said  she,  "how  could  you 
consent  to  enter  into  communion  with  those,  who  so 
wickedly  reviled  the  glorious  work  of  God's  grace 
in  this  land  ?  As  for  myself,  1  never  can,  and  never 
will ;  until  they  profess  repentance  for  their  griev- 
ous sin,  in  speaking  contemptuously  of  the  work  of 
the  Holy  Spirit."  And  accordingly,  she  went  and 
joined  the  Seceders,  who  had  begun  to  form  soci- 
eties, in  several  parts  of  Pennsylvania,  and  con- 
tinued in  their  communion  until  her  dying  day. 
Bat  her  heart  was  ^till  with  the  evangelical  part  of 
the  Presbyterian  church,  and  all  her  children  en- 
tered into  the  communion  of  that  church.  Two  of 
her  sons,  James  Douglass,  and  Daniel  Douglass, 
some  forty  years  ago,  were  pious,  intelligent,  and 
estimable  elders  in  the  Presbyterian  church  in  Alex- 
andria, D.  C,  of  which,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Muir,  was 
the  respected  pastor.  No  doubt,  the  views  of  this 
good  lady  in  regard  to  the  union,  so  happily  formed 
betweiui  the  dissentient  parties  in  the  Presbyterian 


252  THE   REV.  ( ir.\ni,i:?<  ten^Jent. 

churcli,  were  narrow,  yet  they  were  very  naltlral 
and  arose  from  her  acquaintance  with  the  Old  Side 
party  being  confined  to  those  immediately  around 
her,  who  had  taken  a  very  active  part  in  ridiculing 
and  maligning  this  blessed  reformation,  by  which 
many  sinners  were  converted,  and  turned  from 
darkness  to  light,  and  from  the  power  of  Satan  unto 
God.  The  writer,  in  his  youtli,  has  known  some 
people  who  would  indulge  in  the  most  violent 
wrath,  at  any  favourable  mention  of  Mr.  White- 
field  ;  and  yet  they  professed  to  believe  the  very 
doctrines  which  he  preached.  A  large  part  of 
those,  however,  who  belonged  to  the  Old  Side,  were 
actuated  by  no  such  spirit ;  but  were  quiet,  orderly, 
well  informed  Christians,  who  were  very  careful  in 
the  religious  instruction  of  their  own  families  ;  and 
very  strict  and  conscientious  in  all  the  duties  of  re- 
ligion. 

Some  years  before  his  death,  Mr.  Charles  Ten- 
nent  removed  from  Whiteclay  Creek,  to  Bucking- 
ham church,  in  Maryland,  where  he  ended  his  days, 
and  where  it  is  presumed,  his  remains  were  interred. 
Of  his  latter  days,  and  of  the  circumstances  of  his 
decease,  Ave  have  received  no  authentic  information. 
A  dark  cloud  of  oblivion  seems  to  rest  on  the  close 
of  his  life. 

It  may  be  proper,  however,  to  observe,  that  he 
had  a  son,  the  Rev.  William  M.  Tennent,  who,  after 
receivhig  a  finished  education,  entered  the   holy 


THE    REV.    CHARLES    TEXNEXT.  253 

ministry  and  became  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  in  Abington,  in  the  vicmity  of  Pliiladelphia. 
He  married  a  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Rodgers,  of 
New  York,  and  received  the  honourable  degree  of 
Doctor  of  Divinity  from  Yale  College. 

He  was  a  man  of  great  sweetness  of  temper  and 
politeness  of  manners ;  and  was  distinguished  for 
his  hospitality.  His  house  was  seldom  without  the 
company  of  friends  and  acquaintances ;  and  all  who 
had  the  privilege  of  visiting  at  this  pleasant  retreat 
were  delighted  with  their  cordial  reception  and  kind 
entertainment.  His  last  sickness  was  long,  but  in 
it  he  was  in  a  great  measure  exempt  from  pain,  and 
was  blessed  with  an  uninterrupted  assurance  of  the 
favour  of  God.  The  writer,  then  residing  in  Phila- 
delphia, frequently  saw  and  conversed  with  him ; 
and  he  must  say,  he  never  saw  any  person  in  a 
sweeter,  calmer,  happier  state  of  mind,  and  it  con- 
tinued for  many  weeks.  He  died  in  the  year  1811 
or  1812. 

It  is  believed  that  no  male  descendant  of  any 
branch  of  the  Tcnncnt  family  now  remains  in  this 
part  of  the  country  ;  though  there  are  several  in 
South  Carol inia.  Indeed  the  only  descendant  of  the 
Founder  of  the  Log  College,  known  to  us,  is  a  grand- 
daughter of  the  Rev.  Gilbert  Tennent,  who  resides 
in  Philadelphia. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

THE  REV.  SAMUEL  BLAIR. 

Educated  in  the  Log  College — Licensed  to  preach  by  the  Newcastle 
Presbytery — First  settled  at  Shrewsbury,  N.  J. — Removes  to  New 
Londonderry  in  Pennsylvania — Great  revivel  in  that  congregation 
— His  letter  to  Mr.  Prince — How  far  justifiable  in  violating  rules 
of  order — Dr.  Finley's  character  of  him.  Mr.  Davies'  Elegy — 
Publications. 

The  following  character  of  Mr.  Samuel  Blair  is 
given  by  Dr.  Finley,  in  his  funeral  sermon,  oc- 
casioned by  the  death  of  this  eminent  servant  of 
Jesus  Christ. 

"  He  was  blessed  with  early  piety.  On  his  dying 
bed  he  could  recollect  with  delight,  various  evidences 
of  gracious  influences  in  his  tender  years.  By  this 
means  he  was  happily  preserved  from  being  ever 
engaged  in  vicious  courses ;  and  at  once  grew  in 
stature  and  in  grace.  Religion,  far  from  being  a 
flashy  thing  with  him,  was  rational  and  solid  ;  man- 
ifesting itself  in  unreserved  obedience  to  all  God's 
commandments. 

"  To  a  holy  disposition  was  added  a  great  genius, 
capable  of  the  highest  improvement.  He  had  a 
deep  and  penetrating  judgment,  a  clear  and  regular 


THE    REV.    SAMUEL    BI.ATR.  255 

way  of  conceiving  things,  and  a  retentive  memory. 
He  was  an  indefatigable  student,  a  calm  and  impar- 
tial searcher  after  truth.  He  thought  for  himself, 
and  was  determined  in  his  conclusions,  only  by  evi- 
dence. He  had  a  very  considerable  store  of  critical 
learning,  and  was  especially  conversant  with  the 
scriptures  in  the  original  languages.  How  great 
his  attainments  in  philosophy  were,  was  known  by 
few ;  for  in  his  last  years,  his  thirst  for  knowledge 
did  sensibly  increase,  and  he  greatly  improved  him- 
self therein.  He  studied  several  branches  of  the 
mathematics,  and  especially,  geometry  and  astrono- 
my ;  nor  will  these  seem  tasteless  studies  to  one 
who  had  such  a  savour  of  living  piety,  when  it  is 
considered  that  he  saw  the  glory  of  God  in  all  his 
works,  and  admired  and  adored  Ilini  in  all.  He 
delighted  to  see  the  '  invisible  things  of  Him,  even 
his  eternal  power  and  godhead,  manifested  by  the 
things  that  are  made.'  It  was  edifying  to  him  to 
trace  the  footsteps  of  the  divine  wisdom  in  particu- 
lars, and  the  infinite  reach  of  projection  in  the  frame 
and  structure  of  the  whole. 

"  But  his  critical  and  philosopliical  learning,  and 
his  large  acquaintance  with  geography  and  history, 
were  exceeded  by  his  knowledge  in  divinity.  This 
was  the  business  of  his  life,  and  herein  he  made 
such  proficiency  as  few  of  his  standing  in  the  minis- 
try have  attained  unto.  Here  he  found  what  per- 
fertly  answered   his   refined,  spiritual   taste.     The 


256  TJIK    KKV.    SA.MI'UL    liLAIR. 

contemplation   of  redeeming  love,  did  mucli  more 
elevate  his  soul,  than  tiiat  of  the  works  of  creation  ; 
for  therein  lie  saw  the  wisdom,  tlie  power,  the  jus- 
tice, and  the  love  of  God,  more  clearly  displayed. 
On  every  subject  ho  had  a  set  of  most  accurately 
studied  thoughts,     lie  had  often  weighed  in  an  im- 
partial balance,  every  theological  controversy  ;  was 
a  solid  disputant,  and  able  to  defend  all  necessary 
truth.     He  was  a  judicious  casuist,  and  could  very 
satisfyingly  resolve  dubious  and  perplexed  cases  of 
conscience.     He  was  not  only  a  proficient  in  syste- 
matic divinity,  which  is  comparatively  a  small  at- 
tainment, but   a  great  textuary.     He   studied  the 
sacred  oracles  above  all  other  things,  and  that  it  was 
not  in  vain,  manifestly  appeared  from  his  great  abil- 
ity  in  '  dividing  the   word   of  truth.'     lie   could 
'  bring  out  of  his  treasure,  things   new   and  old.' 
How  clearly  and  fully  would  he  explain  his  sub- 
ject ?  with  what  irresistible  arguments  confirm  the 
truth  !     With  what  admirable  dexterity  accommo- 
date it  to  his  audience  !     And  with  what  solenm 
pungency  did  he  impress  it  on  the  conscience  !     He 
spoke  like  one  who  knew  the  worth  of  souls,  and 
felt  in  himself  the  surest  constraints  of  love  to  God 
and  man. 

"As  to  his  religious  principles,  he  was  of  noble 
and  generous  sentiments.  He  had  not  'so  learned 
Christ,'  as  to  be  furious  in  his  zeal  for  mere  circum- 
stantial, or  indifl'crpnt  points.     Hp  understood  the 


THE    REV.    SAMUEL    BLAIR.  257 

nalure  of  religion  better  than  to  place  it  in  things  in 
which  it  does  not  consist ;  and  was  too  much  exer- 
cised about  '  the  great  matters  of  the  law,'  to  be 
equally  zealous  for  '  mint,  anise,  and  cummin.' 
Though  sacrifice  be  good  ;  yet  he  had  learned  that 
<  mercy  is  better.'  He  believed,  and  that  in  accor- 
dance with  the  scriptures,  that  the  communion  of 
saints  is  of  much  greater  importance,  than  many  of 
those  things  in  which  Christians  differ  in  judgment, 
and  was,  therefore,  far  from  such  narrowness,  as  to 
make  every  principle  and  practice  which  he  tliought 
to  be  good  and  true,  a  term  of  communion  ;  and  he 
was  as  far  from  the  contrary  extreme  of  indifference 
to  the  truth,  and  laxness  of  discipline.  As  he  was 
diligent  in  the  exercise  of  his  ministerial  ofike, 
to  the  utmost  of  his  strength,  not  sparing  him- 
self; so  God  did  very  remarkably  succeed  his 
faithful  ministrations  to  the  conversion  of  many 
souls.  He  was  the  spiritual  father  of  great  num- 
bers. I  have  had  acquaintance  with  Christians  in 
different  places,  where  he  only  preached  occasion- 
ally, who  gave  all  hopeful  evidences  of  a  sacred 
conversion,  and  acknowledged  him  to  be  the  instru- 
ment of  it.  He  was  strict  in  discipline  ;  yet  so  as  to 
be  still  candid ;  and  severely  just,  yet  so  as  to  be  still 
compassionate  and  tender.  And  with  what  wisdom 
and  circumspection,  he  judged  in  difficult  cases,  his 
brethren  of  the  presbytery  well  know.  We  waited 
for  his  sage  remarks,  and  heard  attentively,  liis  pru- 


258  TMK     REV.    SAMUEL    IILAFR. 

dent  reasonings ;  and  after  his  words  how  seldom 
had  any  one  occasion  to  speak  again  !  *  Ilis  speech 
dropped  upon  lis,  and  wc  waited  for  him,  as  for  the 
rain.'  He  has  been  eminently  servicable  to  the 
church,  by  assisting  several  promising  youths  in 
their  studies  for  the  ministry ;  who,  becoming  learned 
by  his  instructions,  and  formed  by  his  example,  are 
now  wise,  and  useful,  and  faithful  ministers. 

"  He  was  remarkably  grave  and  solemn  in  his 
aspect  and  deportment ;  yet,  of  a  cheerful,  even,  and 
pleasant  temper.  And  in  conversation  with  his  in- 
timate friends,  facetious  and  witty,  when  the  season 
and  concurring  circumstances  would  allow  him  to 
indulge  in  that  way ;  in  respect  of  which  his  pru- 
dence could  well  direct  him.  He  was  of  a  gener- 
ous and  liberal  disposition  ;  far  from  being  niggard- 
ly, or  covetous  ;  was  forward  in  acts  of  charity  to  the 
indigent,  according  to  his  ability,  and  all  his  con- 
duct discovered  a  noble  indifference  toward  earthly 
things. 

"  If  we  consider  him  as  a  friend,  he  was  as  firm 
and  steadfast,  and  might  as  much  be  depended  on  as 
any  I  ever  knew.  He  was  remote  from  precarious 
and  fickle  humours :  his  approbation  was  not  easily 
obtained,  nor  easily  lost.  Nor  was  he  a  friend  only 
in  compliment,  but  would  cheerfully  undergo  hard- 
ships, and  suffer  disadvantages,  in  order  to  do  a 
friendly  office.  He  was  conscientiously  punctual  in 
attending  ecclesiastical  judicatures,  presbyteries  or 


THE    REV.    SAMUEL    BLAIR.  259 

synods.  His  presence  might  be  depended  on,  if 
nothing  extraordinary  intervened,  as  certainly  as 
the  appointed  day.  He  was  not  absent  on  every 
trifling  inconvenience.  In  this  respect  his  conduct 
was  truly  exemplary,  and  demonstrated  his  constant 
care  for  the  public  interests  of  religion.  So  great 
was  his  attention  to  matters  of  common  concern,  as 
to  incline  him,  rather  to  expose  himself,  than  balk 
an  opportunity  of  doing  good.  It  is  well  known, 
that  his  going  upon  an  urgent  call,  in  a  weakly  state 
of  body,  and  in  unsettled  season,  to  a  convention  of 
the  Trustees  of  New  Jersey  College,  gave  occasion 
to  that  fatal  sickness,  from  which  he  never  fully  re- 
covered. 

"  In  social  life,  also,  he  was  worthy  of  imitation. 
As  a  husband,  he  was  affectionate  and  kind ;  as  a 
father,  tender  and  indulgent.  In  him,  condescension 
and  authority  were  duly  tempered.  There  was 
that  in  him  that  could  engage  love  and  command 
reverence,  at  the  same  time.  Who  that  was  ac- 
quainted with  him  would  not  be  ready  to  say, '  hap- 
py was  the  family  of  which  he  was  the  head,  and 
happy  the  congregation  that  enjoyed  his  ministry  ? 
happy  the  judicature  of  which  he  was  a  member ; 
and  happy  the  person,  who  was  favoured  with  his 
friendship  !  He  was  a  public  blessing  to  the  church, 
an  honour  to  his  people,  an  ornament  to  his  profes- 
sion who  '  magnified  his  oflice.'  He  spoke  as  he 
believed  ;  lie  practised  as  he  preached ;  he  lived 
holy,  and  died  joyfully. 


2fJ0  Tlir    UEV.    SAMUEL    UL\IK. 

«  For  a  long  course  of  years,  he  had  a  habitual, 
unwavering  assurance  of  his  interest  in  the  favour 
of  God,  and  that  a  blessed  and  glorious  eternity 
would,  one  day  open  upon  him;  which  were  his 
own  emphatical  words  on  his  dying  bed.  This  his 
assurance  was  solid  and  scriptural,  arising  from  the 
many  and  clear  experiences  he  had  of  gracious  com- 
munications to  his  soul.  He  was  made  sensible  in 
his  early  years,  of  his  guilty  state  by  nature  as 
well  as  practice  ;  felt  his  inability  to  deliver  him- 
self; saw  plainly  that  he  lay  at  mercy,  and  that  it 
was  entirely  at  God's  pleasure  to  save  or  reject  him. 
This  view  of  the  case  created  in  him  a  restless  con- 
cern, until  the  way  of  life  through  Jesus  Christ  was 
graciously  discovered  to  him.  Then  he  saw  that 
God  could  save  him  in  consistency  with  all  the  hon- 
ours of  governing  justice;  for  that  the  obedience 
and  sufferings  of  Christ,  in  the  room  of  sinners,  have 
made  a  sufficient  atonement  for  sin.  He  saw  that 
Christ  was  a  Saviom*  every  way  complete  and  suit- 
able for  him.  His  soul  approved  the  divine  and 
glorious  plan  ;  and  freely  disclaiming  all  dependence 
on  his  own  righteousness,  wisdom,  and  strength, 
most  gladly  accepted  the  offer  of  the  gospel,  that 
Christ  should  be  his  '  wisdom,  righteousness,  sancti- 
fication,  and  redemption.'  Strict  holiness  was  his 
choice,  and  it  was  the  delightful  business  of  his  life, 
to  '  do  always  those  things  which  pleased  his  hea- 
venly Father.'     And  on  his  dying  bed,  he  had  the 


Tilt:    KKV.    SA.MIKL    iJI-AIU.  261 

lull  approbation  and  testimouy  of  his  conscience,  as 
to  the  general  bent  and  tenor  of  his  life.  These 
particulars  are  the  heads  of  what  he  himself  told  me 
in  his  last  sickness,  and  are  d^'li\-ercd  in  the  same 
order,  as  near  as  I  can  possibly  recollect." 

When  he  approached  near  his  end,  he  expressed 
most  ardent  desires  "  to  de])art  and  be  with  Christ :" 
and  especially,  the  three  last  days  of  his  life  were 
taken  up  in  this  exercise.  Many  gracious  words  he 
spoke,  gave  an  affectionate  farewell  to  his  beloved, 
sorrowful  consort,  and  dear  children  :  tenderly  com- 
mitted them  to  the  divine  mercy  and  faithfulness, 
and  fervently  prayed,  that  the  blessing  of  the  [Most 
High  might  be  vouchsafed  to  them,  and  rest  upon 
them  ;  which  prayer,  I  hope,  will  be  answered.  His 
last  words,  a  minute  or  two  before  his  departure, 
were,  "  the  Bridegroom  is  come,  and  we  shall  now 
have  all  things."  And  thus,  under  a  gleam  of  hea- 
ven, he  breathed  out  his  last. 

The  Rev.  Samuel  Davies,who  had  received  nearly 
his  whole  education  under  the  tuition  of  Samuel 
Blair,  was  deeply  aflccted  when  he  heard  the  sad 
tidings  of  the  death  of  his  rcvered,and  beloved  instruc- 
tor. He  was  then  residing  at  Hanover,  in  Virginia, 
where  he  had  gone  to  occupy  an  imjiortant  station,  as 
will  be  particularly  related  in  another  part  of  this 
work.  Mr.  Davies,  who  possessed  ardent  affections, 
and  a  lively  imagination,  frequently  gave  indulgence 
to  his  poetic  2cnius.  wlii'h.  if  it  hnd  been  cultivated, 

Q 


2Q2  t/ii:   rkv.  samuel  nLAin. 

might  have  rendered  him  conspicuous  in  that  dcpurt- 
ment,no\v  invoked  his  sacred  Muse, and  composed  an 
elegy  of  many  lines,  on  his  admired  friend  and  tutor. 
The  poem  is  more  remarkable  for  pathos,  than  for 
smooth  versificalion.  The  only  reason  for  noticing 
it  here,  is,  to  show  tlic  opinion  entertained  of  Mr. 
Blair,  by  diis  first  of  American  preachers.  A  few 
(Extracts  will  be  sufficient  to  answer  our  purpose. 

" Blair  is  no  more — then  this  poor  world  has  lost 

As  rich  a  jewel  as  her  stores  could  boast ; 
Heaven,  in  ju5t  vengeance,  has  recalled  again, 

Its  I'ailhfui  envoy,  from  the  sons  of  men, 
Advanced  him  from  his  piou^>  toils  below, 
In  raptures  there,  in  kindred  plains  to  glow."' 

"  0,  had  not  the  mournful  news  divulged, 

My  mind  had  still  the  pleasing  dream  indulged — 

Still  fancied  Blair,  whh  health  and  vigour  blessed, 

With  some  grand  purpose  labouring  in  his  breast. 

In  studious  thought,  pursuing  truth  divine. 

Till  the  full  demonstration  round  him  shine  ; 

Or,  from  the  sacred  desk,  proclaiming  luud. 

His  Master's  message,  to  the  attentive  crowd. 

While  heavenly  truth  with  bright  conviction  glares. 

And  coward  error  shrinks,  and  disappears  ; 

While  quick  remorse,  the  hardy  sinner  feels. 

And  Calvary's  balm,  the  bleeding  conscience  heals" 

"  Oh  I  could  the  Muse's  languid  colours  paint. 

The  man,  the  scholar,  student,  preacher,  saint  ; 

I  'd  place  his  image  lull  in  public  view  ; 

His  IViends  should  know  more  than  before  they  knew. 

His  foes  astonished  at  his  virtues,  gaze. 

Or  shrink  confounded  from  the  oppressive  blaze. 

To  trace  his  bright  example,  all  should  turn, 

And  with  tiie  bravest  emulation  burn. 

His  name  should  my  poor  lay?  immortalize. 


THE     IJKV.     SAMUEL    ULVIR.  263 

Till  he,  to  attest  his  character,  arise. 

And  the  Great  Judge,  the  encomium  ratifies." 

The  following  lines  v,'ill  serve  to  show  who  were 
she  persons,  in  Mr.  Dai'ies's  estimation,  who  deserved 
io  be  lianded  down  to  posterity,  as  the  chosen 
friends,  and  faithful  coadjutors  of  jMr.  Blair,  in  his 
cvangehcal  labours,  Tliey  were  all  alumni  of  the 
Log  College,  or  of  Mr.  Blair's  school,  at  New  Lon- 
donderry. And  if  we  look  at  the  men  educated  in 
iliis  school,  we  cannot  but  entertain  an  exalted  opin- 
ion of  Mr.  Samuel  Blair,  as  an  instructor. 

-"Surviving  remnant  of  the  sacred  tribe. 

Who  knew  the  worth  these  plaintive  lays  describe; 

Ten\ent?,  three  worthies  of  immortal  fame. 

Brethren  by  office,  birih,  in  heart  and  name. 

FiNLEY,  who  full  enjoyed  the  unbosomed  friend  ; 

RoDGERS,  whose  soul  he  like  his  own  refined, 

When  all  attention,  eager  to  admit 

The  flowing  knowledge,  at  his  reverend  feet. 

Raptured  we  sat ;  and  thou  above  the  rest. 

Brother  and  image  of  the  dear  deccJised. 

Surviving  Blair  I  Oh,  let  spontaneous  flow 

The  floods  of  tributary  grief  you  owe. 

And  in  your  number — if  so  mean  a  name. 

May  the  sad  honour  of  chief  mourner  claim. 

Oh  !  may  my  filial  tears  more  copious  flow. 

And  swell  the  tide  of  universal  woe. 

Oh  !  Blair  I  whom  ail  the  teiidercst  names  commend. 

My  father,  tutor,  pastor,  brother,  friend! 

While  distance,  the  sad  privilege  denies. 

O'er  thy  dear  tomb,  to  vent  my  bursting  eyes. 

The  Muse  erects — the  sole  rejurn  allowed — 

This  humble  monument  of  gratitude." 

As  tlie  romarkablf  and  impressive  solemnity  of 
Q2 


'jiC'l  TiiK   r.i:v,   5\Mfi;r,   mahir. 

Samuel  JUair'.s  appearance,  especially  in  llic  piilpif, 
has  been  noticed  by  all  who  liave  given  any  account 
of  hirn;  it  will  be  gratifying  to  have  the  same  con- 
firmed by  such  a  man  as  Samuel  Davics,  who  himself 
was  so  distini^nished  for  dignify  and  solemnity  in  the 
pulpit,  that  one  of  the  most  excellent  laymen  I  evf^r 
knew,  told  me,  that  lie  went  to  hear  Mr.  Davi' 
preach,  when  he  was  just  grown  up,  and  that  tlie 
sight  of  the  man,  and  the  mere  iittcrance  of  his  text, 
"Martha,  Martha,"  &c.,  made  a  deeper  impression 
on  him,  than  all  the  sermons  he  had  ever  heard 
before. 

"Now,  in  the  sacred  desk,  I  sec  him  rise. 

And  well  he  acts  the  herald  of  the  skies. 

Graceful  soleranitj-,  and  striking  awe 

Sit  in  his  looks,  and  deep  attention  draw. 

His  speaking  aspect — in  the  bloom  of  youth 

Renewed — declares  unutterable  truth. 

Unthinking  crowds  grow  solemn  as  they  gaze. 

And  read  his  awful  message  in  his  face." 

The  principal  writings  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Blair, 
were  collected  by  his  brother  John,  after  his  death, 
and  published  in  Philadelphia,  in  the  year  1754, 
together  with  Dr.  Finley's  Funeral  Sermon,  from 
which  wc  have  so  largely  quoted,  and  iMr.  Davies's 
Elegy. 

This  voliuue  contains  seven  sermons,  all  on  highly 
important  and  practical  subjects  ;  which  are  treated 
in  a  very  solemn  and  methodical  manner.  His 
style  is  perspicuous,  but  neither  terse  nor  elegant ; 
but  the  thmiirhts  are  those  of  a  profound  thinker. 


I 


THE    REV.    SAMT'EI,    III,  MR.  5fi,) 

^  To  these  sermoiLS  is  appended  an  elaborate  trea- 
tise on  Predestination  and  Reprobation,  evincing 
that  the  author  was  a  thorough-going  Calvinist. 
Tliis  treatise  has  been  recently  republished  in  Balti- 
more. This  volume  also  contains  his  "  Vindi- 
cation," written  by  the  direction  of  the  Presby- 
tery of  New  Brunswick,  in  answer  to  "The 
Government  of  the  Church,"  &.C.,  by  the  Rev.  John 
Thompson. 

The  Rev.  Samuel  Blair,  was  a  native  of  Ireland, 
but  came  early  to  this  country,  and  received  his 
education  in  the  Log  College,  under  Mr.  VVm.  Ten- 
nent,  Sen.,  at  Neshaminy.  He  must,  indeed,  have 
been  among  the  first  pupils  of  this  institution.  After 
finishing  iiis  classical  and  theological  studies,  Mr. 
JJlair  put  himself  under  the  care  of  the  New  Castle 
presbytery,  <l)y  which  body  he  was,  in  due  time, 
licensed  to  preach  the  gospel.  Soon  after  his  license, 
he  was  settled  in  the  Presbyterian  congregation,  at 
Shrewsbury,  in  New  Jersey.  He  laboured  in  this 
field,  for  five  or  six  years,  when  he  received  an 
earnest  call  to  settle  in  New  Londonderry,  otherwise 
called  Fagg's  Manor,  in  the  State  of  Pennsylvania. 
Here  he  instituted  a  classical  school,  similar  in  its 
purpose  to  that  of  Mr.  Tennent,  in  Neshaminy.  In 
wliich,  some  of  the  ablest  ministers  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian church  received  either  the  whole,  or  tiie  more 
substantial  parts  of  their  education.     Among  these 

were,  the  Rev.  Samuel  Davics,  the  Rev.  Alexander 
Q3 


206  Tin:   Kr.v.  sA.Mti:i.   hi.aik. 

Gumming,  tlic  Rev.  John  Rodgers,.D.  I).,  tlic  Rev, 
James  Finley,  and  the  Rev.  Hugh  Henry. 

Mr.  BIair's*scttlemcnt  at  Shrevvshury,  was  in  the 
year  1734,  when  he  was  only  twenty-two  years  of 
age. 

The  presbytery  of  New  Brunswick  did  not  exist 
mitil  the  year  173S,  of  which  Mr.  Blair  was  one  of 
the  original  members. 

When  he  received  the  call  from  New  London- 
derry, in  Chester  county,  Pennsylvania,  he  left  it  to 
the  presbytery  to  decide,  whether  he  should  go  or 
stay.  After  mature  deliberation,  they  advised  him 
to  accept  the  call,  as  they  were  of  opinion  it  would 
introduce  him  into  a  wider  field  of  usefulness. 

There  are  no  records  extant,  from  which  we  can 
learn  any  particulars  respecting  the  fruits  of  Mr. 
Blair's  labours  at  Shrewsbury.  Il^e  he  com- 
menced his  ministerial  work  :  and  as  he  was  a  faith- 
ful, able  and  zealous  preacher  of  the  truth  as  it  is  in 
Jesus,  we  entertain  no  doubt  that  some  of  the  good 
seed  which  he  sowed,  fell  into  good  ground,  and 
brought  forth  fruit.  The  vicissitudes  of  that  congre- 
gation have  been  remarkable.  For  a  Avhile  it  was 
flourishing,  and  had  many  respectable  members,  but 
it  became  apparently  extinct,  and  the  house  of  wor- 
ship was  burned ;  but  after  being  dead  for  some 
years,  it  was  resuscitated ;  it  now  promises  to  floiu"- 
ish  again. 

Under  his  ministry  at  New  Londonderry,  lher« 


THE    REV.    SAMU£L    BLAIR.  2(J7 

occurred  a  very  remarkable  revival  of  religion,  of 
which  he  vvrote  a  particular  narrative  The  congrega- 
tion at  Fagg's  Manor,  consisted  almost  entirely  of 
emigrants  from  the  north  of  Ireland ;  and  had  been 
formed  a  immber  of  years,  but  had  never  enjoyed 
the  ministry  of  a  stated  pastor.  His  settlement  among 
them  took  place  in  November,  1739  ;  although  ho 
was  not  installed  as  their  pastor,  until  the  month  of 
April,  1740. 

The  revival  referred  to  above,  commenced  a  short 
time  after  his  settlement  in  the  place.  The  follow- 
ing account  is  contained  in  tlic  "  Narrative"  wliich 
he  wrote,  in  a  letter  to  tlie  Rev.  Mr.  Prince,  of  Bos- 
ton, in  his  "  Christian  History." 

**  iVewJ  Londondernj  in  Pennsylvania,  Aug.  6l/i,  1744. 

"Rev,  Sir, 
"  I  do  most  gladly  comply  with  your  desire  in  sending  you 
some  account  of  the  glorious  appearance  of  God  in  a  way  of 
special  grace  for  us  in  this  congregation,  and  other  parts  of 
this  country  :  and  am  of  the  same  judgment  with  you  and 
other  pious  and  judicious  people,  that  the  collecting  and  pub- 
lishing of  such  accounts  may  greatly  tend  to  the  glory  of 
our  Redeemer,  and  the  increase  of  his  triumphs.  I  much 
rejoice  in  the  publication  of  such  a  collection  in  the  Christian 
History,  so  far  as  it  is  already  carried  on  :  I  think  it  may 
serve  to  many  excellent  purposes,  and  be  an  happy  mean 
of  advancmg  the  dear  interests  of  our  glorious  Redeemer's 
kingdom,  both  in  the  present  age,  and  the  ages  to  come. 
And  I  cannot  but  look  upon  myself  as  called  of  God  in  duty, 
being  thus  invited  to  it,  by  you.  Rev.  Sir,  to  put  to  a  hand, 
among  many  others  of  my  reverend  fathers  and  brethren  on 
both  sides  of  the  Atlantic,  to  the  carryin.-;  on  of  the  design  of 
said  history,  containing  accounts  of  the  revival  and  propaga- 


268  lilE    ItEV.    SAMUKL    nhAlU. 

tion  of  religion  in  this  reiiiarkaljlc  clay  of  grace.  I  cannot, 
indeed,  give  near  so  full  and  particular  a  relation  of  the  re- 
vival of  religion  here,  as  I  might  have  done,  had  1  had  such 
a  thing  in  view  at  the  time  when  God  was  most  eminently 
carrying  on  his  work  among  us:  I  entirely  neglected  then  to 
note  down  any  particulars  in  writing,  for  which  I  have  been 
often  sorry  since  ;  so  that  this  account  must  be  very  imper- 
fect to  what  it  might  otherwise  have  been. 

"  That  it  may  the  more  clearly  appear  that   the  Lord  has 
indeed  carried  on  a  work  of  true  real  religion  among  us  of 
late  years,  I  conceive  it  will  be  useful  to  give  a  brief  general 
view  of  the  state  of  religion  in  these  parts,  before  this  re- 
markable season.     I  doubt  not  then  but  there  were  some 
sincerely  religious  people  up  and  down  ;  and  there  were,  I 
believe,  a  considerable  number  in  the  several  congregations, 
pretty  exact,  according  to  their  education,  in  the  observance 
of  the  external  forms  of  religion,  not  only  as  to  attendance 
upon  public  ordinances  on  the  sabbath,  but  also,  as  to  the 
practice  of  family  worship,  and  perhaps,  secret  prayer  too: 
but  with  these  things  the  most  part  seemed  to  all  appearance 
to  rest   contented  ;   and  to  satisfy  their  consciences   with 
a  dead  formality  in  religion.     If  they  performed  these  duties 
pretty  punctually  in  their  seasons,  and  as  they  thought  with  a 
good  meaning. out  of  conscience,  and  not  just  to  obtain  a  name 
for  religion  among  men;  then  they  were  ready  to  conclude 
that  they  were  truly  and  sincerely  religious.     A  very  lament- 
able ignorance  of  the  main  essentials  of  true  practical  reli- 
gion, and  the  doctrines  nextly  relating  thereunto,  very  gener- 
ally prevailed.     The  nature  and  necessity  of  the  new  birth, 
was  but  little  known  or  thought  of.      The  necessity  of  a 
conviction  of  sin  and  misery,  by  the  Holy  Spirit  opening  and 
applying  the  law  to  the  conscience,  in  order  to  a  savins 
closure  with  Christ,  was  hardly  known  at  all,  to  the  most. 
It  was  thought,  that  if  there  was  any  need  of  a  heart-dis- 
tressing sight  of  the  soul's  danger,  and  fear  of  divine  wrath, 
it  was  only  needful  for  the  grosser  sort  of  sinners :  and  for 
any  others  to  be  deeply  exercised  this  way  (as  there  might 
soraetimesbe  before,  some  rare  instances  observable)  this  wai 
generally  looked  upon  to  be  a  great  evil  and  temptation,  that 


THE     RKV.    SA.MITL    BI-AIR.  i(i9 

had  befallen  those  persons.  The  common  names  for  such 
soul-concern  were,  melancholy,  trouble  of  mind,  or  despair. 
These  terms  were  in  common,  so  far  as  I  have  been  ac- 
quainted, indifferently  used  as  synonymous  ;  and  trouble  of 
mind,  was  looked  upon  as  a  great  evil,  which  all  persons 
that  made  any  sober  profession  and  practice  of  religion 
ought  carefully  to  avoid.  There  was  scarcely  any  suspicion 
at  all,  in  gtncral,  of  any  danger  of  depending  upon  self- 
righteousness,  and  not  upon  the  righieousness  of  Christ  alone 
for  salvation.  Papists  and  Quakers  would  be  readily  ac- 
knowledged guilty  of  this  crime;  but  hardly  any  professed 
Presbyterian.  The  necessity  of  being  first  in  Christ  by  a 
vital  union,  and  in  a  justified  state,  before  our  religious  ser- 
vices can  be  well  pleasing  and  acceptable  to  God,  was  very 
little  understood  or  thought  of:  but  the  common  notion 
seemed  to  be,  that  if  people  were  aiming  to  be  in  the  way 
of  duty  as  well  as  they  could,  as  they  imagined,  there  was 
no  reason  to  be  much  afraid. 

"According  to  these  principles,  and  this  ignorance  of  some 
of  the  most  soul-concerning  truths  of  the  gospel,  people  were 
very  generally  thruugh  the  land,  careless  at  heart,  and  stu- 
pidly indifferent  about  the  great  concerns  of  eternity.  There 
was  very  little  appearance  of  any  hearty  engagedness  in 
religion:  and  indeed  the  wise,  for  the  most  part,  were  in  a 
great  degree  asleep  with  the  foolish.  It  was  sad  to  see 
Avith  what  a  careless  behaviour  the  public  ordinances  were 
attended,  and  how  people  were  given  to  unsuitable  worldly 
discourse,  on  the  Lord's  holy  day.  In  public  companies, 
especially  at  weddings,  a  vain  and  frothy  lightness  was  ap- 
parent in  the  deportment  of  many  professors:  and  in  some 
places,  very  extravagant  follies,  as  horse-runnhig,  fiddling 
and  dancing,  pretty  much  obtained,  on  those  occasions. 

Thus,  religion  lay  as  it  were  a  dying,  and  ready  to  expire 
its  last  breath  of  life  in  this  part  of  the  visible  church  :  and 
it  was  in  the  spring  of  1710,  when  the  God  of  salvation  was 
pleased  to  visit  us  with  the  blessed  effusions  of  his  holy  spi- 
rit in  an  eminent  manner.  The  first  very  open  and  public 
appearance  of  this  gracious  visitation  in  these  parts,  was  in 
the  congregation  which  God  has  cnmmittpd  to  my  charge. 


;>70  THi:   Ri;v.   samiki.   ui.air. 

This  congregation  has  not  been  erected  above  fourteen  or 
fifteen  years  from  this  time:  the  place  is  a  new  settlement, 
generally  settled  with  proplc  from  Ireland  (as  all  our  con- 
gregations in  Pennsylvania,  except  two  or  three,  chiefly  are 
made  up  of  people  from  that  kingdom).*  I  am  the  first 
minister  they  have  ever  had  settled  in  the  place  ;  having  been 
regularly  liberated  from  my  former  charge,  in  East  Jersey, 
above  an  hundred  miles  north-eastward  from  hence';  the 
reverend  presbytery  of  New  Brunswick  of  which  I  had  the 
comfort  of  being  a  member,  judging  it  to  be  my  duty,  for 
sundry  reasons,  to  remove  from  thence.  At  the  earnest  in- 
vitation of  the  people  here,  I  came  to  them  in  the  beginning 
of  November,  1739  ;  accepted  of  a  call  from  them  that  win- 
ter, and  was  formally  installed  and  settled  among  them  as 
their  minister,  in  April  following.  There  were  some  hope- 
fully pious  people  here  at  my  first  coming,  which  was  a 
great  encouragement  and  comfort  to  me. 

"  I  had  some  view  and  sense  of  the  deplorable  condition  of 
the  land  in  general ;  and  accordingly  the  scope  of  my 
preaching  through  that  first  winter  after  I  came  here,  was 
mainly  calculated  for  persons  in  a  natural  imregenerate 
state.  I  endeavoured,  as  the  Lord  enabled  me,  to  open  up 
and  prove  from  his  word,  the  truths  which  I  judged  most 
necessary  for  such  as  were  in  that  state  to  know  and  believe, 
in  order  to  their  conviction  and  conversion.  I  endeavoured 
to  deal  searchingly  and  solemnly  with  them :  and  through 
the  concurring  blessing  of  God,  I  had  knowledge  of  four  or 
five  brought  under  deep  convictions  that  winter. 

*  "It  may  be  convenient  here  to  observe,  that  in  Ireland,  are  three 
different  sorts  of  people,  deriving  from  three  several  nations  :  1.  those 
who  descend  from  the  ancient  Irish ;  and  these  are  generally 
Roman  Catholics.  2.  'J'hose  who  descend  from  ancestors  who  came 
from  England;  and  these  are  generally  Church  of  England  men. 
3.  Those  who  descend  from  ancestors  who  came  from  Scotland  since 
the  Reformation  :  and  these  are  generally  Presbyterians;  who  chiefly 
inhabit  the  northerly  parts  of  Ireland  :  and  these  are  the  people  who 
have  oflate  years  in  great  numbers,  removed  thence  into  these  Ame- 
rican regions. 


rUE.     KEV.    SAMUKL    BLAIR,  271 

"In  the  beginning  of  March,  I  took  a  journey  into  East 
Jersey  ;  and  was  abroad  for  two  or  three  Sabbaths  :  a  neigh- 
bouring minister,  who  seemed  to  be  earnest  for  the  awaken- 
ing  and    conversion    of  secure   sinners,  and  whom   I  had 
obtained  to  preach  a  Sabbath  to  my  people  in  my  absence, 
preached  to  them,  I  think,  on  the  first  Sabbath  after  I  left 
home :  his  subject  was  the  dangerous  and  awful  case  of  such 
as  continue  unrpgenerate,  and  unfruitful  under  the  means  of 
grace.     The  text  was  Luke,  xiii.  7.     'Then  said  he  to  the 
dresser  of  his  vineyard.  Behold,   these  three  years  I  come 
seeking  fruit  on  this  fig  tree,  and  find  none  ;  cut  it  down, 
why  cumbereth  it  the  ground  1     Under  that  sermon,  there 
was  a  visible  appearance  of  much  soul-concern  among  the 
hearers  ;  so  that  some  burst  out  with  an' audible  noise  into 
bitter   crying  ;    a  thing  not   known  in  these  parts  before. 
After  I  had  coine  home,  there  came  a  young  man  to  my 
house,  under  deep  trouble  about  the  state  of  his  soul,  whom 
I  had  looked  upon  as  a  pretty  light  merry  sort  of  a  youth : 
he  told  me  that  he  was  not  anything  concerned  about  him- 
self in  the  time  of  hearing  the  above-mentioned  sermon,  nor 
afterwards,  till  the  next  day  that  he  went  to  his  labour, 
which  was  grubbing,  in  order  to  clear  some  new  ground. 
The  first  grub  he  set  about,  was  a  pretty  large  one,  with  a 
high  top,  and  when  he  had  cut  the  roots,  as  it  fell  down, 
these  words  came  instantly  to  his  remembrance,  and  as  a 
spear  to  his  heart,  'cut  it  down,  why  cumbereth  it  the  ground?' 
So,  thought  he,  must  I  be  cut  down  by  the  justice  of  God, 
for  the  burning  of  hell,  unless  I  get  into  another  state  than  I 
am  now  in.     He  thus  came  into  very  great  and  abiding  dis- 
tress, which,  to  all  appearance,  has  had  a  happy  issue  ;  his 
conversation   being  to  this  day  as  becomes  the  gospel  of 
Christ. 

"The  news  of  this  very  public  appearance  of  deep  soul- 
concern  among  my  people,  met  me  a  hundred  miles  from 
home  ;  I  was  very  joyful  to  hear  of  it,  in  hopes  that  God  was 
about  to  carry  on  an  extensive  work  of  converting  grace 
amongst  them.  And  the  first  sermon  I  preached  after  my 
return  to  them,  was  from  Matthew  vi.  33.  '  Seek  ye  first  the 
kingdom  of  God,  and  his  righteousness.'     After  opening  up 


272  Tlli:     KKV.    -SAMUUL    JJLAIR. 

and  cxpliiiiiing  liie  parts  of  llie  icxl,  when,  in  ilic  improvc- 
Tnenl,  I  came  to  press  tin-  injunction  in  tlic  text  upon  the  un- 
converted and  ungodly,  and  offered  this  as  one  reason  among 
others,  why  they  should  now  henceforth  first  of  all  seek  the 
kingdom  and  righteousness  of  God,  viz.,  that  they  had 
neglected  too  long  to  do  so  already :  this  consideration 
seemed  to  come  and  cut  like  a  sword  upon  several  in  the 
congregation  ;  so  that  while  I  was  speaking  upon  it,  they 
could  no  longer  contain,  but  burst  out  in  the  most  bitter 
mourning.  I  desired  them  as  much  as  possible,  to  restrain 
themselves  from  making  any  noise,  that  would  hinder  them- 
selves or  others  from  hearing  what  was  spoken  :  and  often 
afterwards  I  had  occasion  to  repeat  the  same  counsel  :  I 
still  advise  people  to  endeavour  to  moderate  and  bound  their 
passions,  but  not  so  as  to  resist  or  stifle  their  conviction. 
The  number  of  ihe  awakened  increased  very  fast :  frequently 
under  sermons  there  were  some  newly  convicted,  and 
brought  into  deep  distress  of  soul  about  their  perishing 
estate.  Our  Sabbath  assemblies  soon  became  vastly  large: 
many  people  from  almost  all  parts  around,  inclining  very 
much  to  come  where  there  was  such  appearance  of  the  di- 
vine power  and  presence.  I  think  there  was  scarcely  a  ser- 
mon or  lecture  preached  here  through  that  whole  summer, 
but  there  were  manifest  evidences  of  impressions  ou  the 
hearers;  and  many  times  the  impressions  were  very  great 
and  general:  several  would  be  overcome  and  faintin-'' ; 
others  deeply  sobbing,  hardly  able  to  contain ;  others  crying 
in  a  most  dolorous  manner;  many  others  more  silently 
weeping :  and  a  solemn  concern  appearing  in  the  counte- 
nances of  many  others.  And  sometimes  the  soul-exercises 
of  some  (though  comparatively  but  very  few)  would  so  lar 
affect  their  bodies,  as  to  occasion  some  stran"-e  unusual 
bodily  motions.  I  had  opportunities  of  speaking  particularlv 
with  a  ^reat  many  of  those,  Avho  afforded  such  outward 
tokens  of  inward  soul-concern  in  the  time  of  public  worship 
and  hearing  of  the  word  :  mdeed,  many  came  to  me  of 
themselves  in  their  distress,  for  private  instruction  and  coun- 
sel ;  and  I  found,  so  far  as  I  can  remember,  that  with  by  far 
the  greater  part  their  apparent  concern  in  public  was  not 


THE   iiKV.  sami:ki.    uj.mh.  278 

a  transient  qualm  of  conscience,  or  merely  a  floating 
commotion  fif  the  afTcclions  ;  but  a  rational  fixed  conviction 
of  their  dangerous  perishing  estate.  They  could  generally 
offer  as  a  conviciive  evidence  of  their  being  in  an  unconverted 
miserable  estate,  that  they  were  utter  strangers  to  those  dis* 
posititns,  exercises,  and  experiences  of  soul  in  religion, 
v^'hich  ihey  heard  laid  down  from  God's  word,  as  the  inse- 
parable characters  of  the  truly  regenerate  people  of  God  ; 
even  such  as  before  had  something  of  the  form  of  religion  ; 
and,  I  think  the  greater  number  were  of  this  sort ;  and 
several  had  been  pretty  exact  and  punctual  in  the  perform- 
ance of  outward  duties;  they  saw  they  had  been  contenting 
themselves  with  the  form  without  the  life  and  power  of 
godliness;  and  that  they  had  been  taking  peace  to  their 
consciences  from,  and  depending  upon  their  own  righteous* 
ness,  and  not  the  righteousness  of  Jesus  Christ. 

"  In  a  word,  they  saw  that  true  practical  religion  was  quite 
another  thing  than  they  had  conceived  it  to  be,  or  had  any 
true  experience  of.  There  were  likewise  many  up  and  down 
the  land,  brought  under  deep  distressing  convictions  that 
summer,  who  had  lived  very  loose  lives,  regardless  of  the 
very  externals  of  religion.  In  this  ccnsrecation,  I  believe 
there  «  ere  very  few  that  were  not  stirred  up  to  some  solemn 
ihoughtfulness  and  concern  more  than  usual  about  their 
souls.  The  general  carriage  and  behaviour  of  people  was 
soon  very  visibly  altered.  Those  awakened  were  much 
given  to  reading  in  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  other  good 
books.  Excellent  books  that  had  Iain  by  much  neglected, 
were  then  much  perused,  and  lent  from  one  to  another  ;  and  it 
was  a  peculiar  satisfaction  to  people,  to  find  hov,'  exactly  the 
doctrines  they  heard  daily  preached,  harmonized  with  th« 
doctrines  contained  and  taught  by  great  and  godly  men  in 
other  parts,  and  former  limes.  The  subjects  of  discourse 
almost  always,  when  any  of  them  were  together,  were  the 
matters  of  religion  and  great  concerns  of  their  souls.  All 
unsuitable,  worldly,  vain  discourse  on  the  Lord's  day,  seemed 
to  be  laid  aside  among  them:  indeed,  lor  anything  that  ap- 
peared, there  seemed  to  be  almost  a  universal  reformation  in 
'his  respect  in  our  public  assemblies,  on  the  Lord's  day. 


274  ''Hi;   ni'.v.  s  \Mfi:r.   m.  vri;. 

"There  was  an  earnest  desire  in  people  after  opporluniiio 
for  public  worship  and  hearing?  the  word.     I  appointed,  in 
the  spring,  to  preach   every  P'riday   through  the  summer, 
when    I   was    at    hornc,    and    those    meetings   were   well 
attended  ;  and  at  several  of  them,  the   power  of  the  Lord 
was  remarkably  with  up.     The  main  scope  of  my  preaching, 
through  that  summer,  was,  laying  open  the  deplorable  state 
of  man  by  nature  since  the  fall,  our  ruined  exposed  case  by 
the  breach  of  the  first  covenant,  and  the  awful  condition  of 
such  as  were  not  in  Christ,  giving  the  marks  and  characters 
of  such  as  were  in  that  condition  :  and,  moreover,  laying 
open  the  way  of  recovery,  in  the  new  covenant,  through  a 
Mediator,  with  the  nature  and  necessity  of  faiih  in  Christ 
the  Mediator,  &c.     I  laboured  much  on  the  last  mentioned 
heads;  that  the  people  might  have  right  apprehensions  of 
the  gospel-method  of  life  and  salvation.     I  treated  much  on 
the  way  of  sinners  closing  with  Christ  by  faith,  and  obtain- 
ing a  right  peace  to  an  awakened  wounded  conscience: 
showing  that  persons  were  not  to  take  peace  to  themselves 
on  account  of  their  repentings,  sorrows,  prayers,  and  reforma- 
tions ;  nor  to  make  these  things  the  grounds  of  their  adven- 
turing tliemselves  upon  Christ  and  his  righteousness,  and  of 
their  expectations  of  life  by  him :   and  that  neither  were 
they  to  obtain   or  seek   peace  in  extraordinary  ways,  by 
visions,  dreams,  or  immediate  inspirations:  but,  by  an  un- 
derstanding view,  and  believing  persuasion  of  the  way  of  life, 
as  revealed  in  the  gospel,  through  the  sureliship  obedience 
and  sufferings  of  Jesus  Christ ;  with  a  view  of  the  suitable- 
ness and  sufliciency  of  that  mediatory  righteousness  of  Christ, 
for  the  justification  and  life  of  law-condemned  sinners  :  and 
thereupon,  freely  accepting  liim  for  their  Saviour,  heartily 
consenting  to,  and  being  well  pleased  with   the  way  of  sal- 
vation, and  venturing  their  all  upon  his  mediation,  from  the 
warrant  and  encouragement  afforded  of  God  thereunto  in  his 
word,  by  his  free  offer,  authoritative  command,  and  sure 
promise  to  those  that  so  believe.    I  endeavoured  to  show  the 
fruits  and  evidences  of  a  true  faith,  &:c. 

"After  some  time,  many  of  the  convinced  and  distressed, 
afforded  very  hopeful  satisfying  evidence  that  the  Lord  had 


THL;    llEV.    SA.MUEL    DLAIIt.  27j 

brought  them  to  a  true  closure  Aviili  Jesus  Christ ;  and  that 
their  distresses  and  fears  had  been  in  a  great  measure  re- 
moved in  a  right  gospel-way,  by  believing  in  the  Son  of  God. 
Several  of  them  had  very  remarkable  and  sweet  deliver- 
ances this  way.  It  was  very  agreeable  to  hear  their  accounts, 
how  that  when  they  were  in  the  deepest  perplexity  and 
darkness,  distress  and  difficulty,  seeking  God  as  poor  con- 
demned hell-deserving  sinners,  the  scheme  of  recovering 
grace  through  a  Redeemer  has  been  opened  to  their  under- 
standings with  a  surprising  beauty  and  glory,  so  that  they 
Avere  enabled  to  believe  in  Christ  with  joy  unspeakable,  and 
full  of  glory.  It  appeared  that  most  generally  the  Holy 
Spirit  improved  for  this  purpose,  and  made  use  of  some 
one  particular  passage  or  other  of  the  Holy  Scripture, 
that  came  to  their  remembrance  in  their  distress  :  some  gos- 
pel-offer or  promise,  or  some  declaration  of  God  directly  re- 
ferring to  the  recovery  and  salvation  of  undone  sinners,  by 
the  new-covenant.  But  with  some  it  was  otherwise:  they 
had  not  anv  one  particular  place  of  Scripture  more  than  an- 
other in  their  view,  at  the  time.  Those  who  met  with  such 
a  remarkable  relief;  as  their  account  of  it  was  rational  and 
scriptural,  so,  they  appeared  to  have  had  at  the  time,  the 
attendants  and  fruits  of  a  true  faith  ;  particularly  humility, 
love,  and  an  affectionate  regard  to  the  will  and  honour  of 
God  :  much  of  their  exercise  was  in  self-abasing  and  self- 
loathing  ;  and  admiring  the  astonishing  condescension  and 
grace  of  God  towards  such  vile  and  despicable  creatures, 
that  had  been  so  full  of  enmity  and  disaffecton  to  him.  They 
freely  and  sweetly,  wiih  all  their  hearts,  chose  the  way  of 
his  commandments;  their  inflamed  desire  was  to  live  to 
him  for  ever,  according  to  his  will  ;  and  to  the  glory  of  his 
name. 

"There  were  others  that  had  not  such  remarkable 
relief  and  comfort,  who  yet  I  could  not  but  think  were 
savingly  renewed  and  brought  truly  to  accept  of  and  rest 
upon  Jesus  Christ,  though  not  with  such  a  degree  of  liveliness 
and  liberty,  strength  and  joy  ;  and  some  of  those  continued 
fur  a  considerable  time  after,  for  the  most  part,  under  a  very 
distressing  suspicion  and  jealousv  of  their  case.     I  was  all 


876  Tiin   iiEv.  sAMtrKr.   uj.aih. 

alon^  very  cautious  of  expressinij  to  people  my  judgment 
of  the  goodness  of  their  suites,  « xcept  where  1  h:id  pretty 
clear  evidences  from  them,  of  i heir  heing  savingly  changed  ; 
and  yet  tiiey  continued  in  deep  distress,  casting  off  all  their 
evidences.  Sometimes  m  such  cases,  I  have  thought  it  need- 
ful to  use  greater  freedom  that  way  than  ordinary  ;  but 
otherwise,  I  judged  that  it  could  be  of  little  use,  and  might 
easily  be  hu  rtful. 

"Beside  those  above  spoken  of,  whose  experience  of  a  work 
of  grace  was  in  a  good  degree  clear  and  satisfying,  there 
were  some  others  (though  but  very  few  in  this  congregation, 
that  I  knew  of)  who,  having  very  little  knowledge  or  capa- 
city, had  a  very  obscure  and  improper  way  of  representing 
their  case.  In  relating  how  they  had  been  exercised,  they 
would  chiefly  speak  of  such  things  as  were  only  the  effects 
of  their  soul  exercise  upon  their  bodies,  from  time  to  time, 
and  some  things  that  were  purely  imaginary  :  which  obliged 
me  to  be  at  much  pains  in  my  inquiries,  before  I  could  get 
any  just  ideas  of  their  case.  I  would  ask  them,  what  were 
the  thoughts,  the  views  and  apprehensions  of  their  minds, 
and  exercise  of  their  affections,  at  such  limes  when  they 
felt,  perhaps,  a  quivering  come  over  them,  or  a  faint- 
ness,  or  thought  they  saw  their  hearts  full  of  some 
nauseous  filthiness;  or  when  they  felt  a  heavy  weight 
or  load  at  their  hearts,  or  felt  (he  weight  again  taken 
off,  and  a  pleasant  warmness  rising  from  their  hearts,  as  they 
wou-ld  probably  express  themselves,  which  might  be  the 
occasions  or  causes  of  these  things  they  spoke  of;  and  then, 
when  with  some  difTiculty  I  could  get  them  to  understand 
me,  some  of  them  would  give  a  pretty  rational  account  of 
solemn  and  spiritual  exercises:  and  after  a  thorough  careful 
examination  this  way,  I  could  not  but  conceive  good  hopes  of 
some  such  persons. 

"  But  there  were,  moreover,  several  others,  who  seemed 
to  think  concerning  themselves  that  they  were  under  some 
good  work,  of  whom  yet  I  could  have  no  reasonable  ground 
to  think  that  they  were  under  any  hopeful  work  of  the 
Spirit  of  God.  As  near  as  I  could  judge  of  their  case  from 
all  my   acquaintance  and  conversation  with  them,  it  was 


THE     REV.    SAMUEL    BLAIK.  277 

much  to  this  purpose.  Theybelieved  there  was  a  sood  work 
going  oa  ;  that  people  were  convinced,  and  brought  into  a 
converted  state  ;  and  they  desired  to  be  converted  too.  They 
saw  others  weepinjj  and  fainting,  and  heard  people  mourn- 
ing and  laineniing,  and  they  thought  if  they  could  be  like 
these  it  would  be  very  hopeful  wiih  them  ;  hence,  they  en- 
deavoured just  to  get  themselves  aflected  by  sermons:,  and 
if  they  could  come  to  vreeping,  or  get  their  passions  so  raised 
as  to  incline  them  to  vent  themselves  by  cries,  now  they 
hoped  they  were  got  under  convictions,  and  were  in  a  very 
hopeful  way  ;  and  afterwards,  they  would  speak  of  their 
being  in  trouble,  and  aim  ai  complaining  of  themselves,  but 
seemed  as  if  they  knew  not  well  how  to  do  it,  nor  what  to 
say  against  themselves;  and  then  they  would  be  looking 
and  expecting  to  get  some  texts  of  scripture  applied  to  them 
for  their  comfort  ;  and  when  any  scripture  text  which  they 
thought  was  suitable  for  that  purpose,  came  to  their  minds, 
they  were  in  hopes  it  was  brought  to  them  by  the  Spirit  of 
God,  that  they  might  take  comfort  from  it.  And  thus,  much 
in  such  a  way  as  this,  some  appeared  to  be  pleasing  them- 
selves with  an  imaginary  conversion  of  their  own  mak- 
ing.~  I  endeavoured  to  correct  and  guard  against  all  such 
mistakes  so  far  as  I  discovered  them,  in  the  course  of  my 
ministry  ;  and  to  open  up  the  nature  of  a  true  conviction  by 
the  Spirit  of  God,  and  of  a  saving  conversion. 

"  Thus  I  have  given  a  very  brief  account  of  the  state  and 
progress  of  religion  here  through  that  first  summer  after  the 
remarkable  revival  of  it  among  us.  Towards  the  end  of 
that  summer,  there  seemed  to  be  a  stop  put  to  the  further 
progress  of  the  work  as  to  conviction  and  awakening  of  sin- 
ners ;  and  ever  since  there  have  been  very  few  instances  of 
persons  convinced.  It  remains  then,  that^  speak  some- 
thing of  the  abiding  effects  and  after  fruits  of  those  awaken- 
ings and  other  religious  exercises  v/hich  people  were  under 
during  the  above  mentioned  period.  Such  as  were  only 
under  some  slight  in)pressions  and  superficial  awakenings, 
seem  in  general  to  have  lost  them  all  aijain  Aviihout  any 
abiding  hopeful  alteration  upon  them.  They  seem  to  have 
fallen  back  again  into  their  former  carelessness  and  stupidity 


278  iiii:   ui;v.  sa.miki,   iti.Aiii. 

and  some  that  were  under  pretty  great  awakeuings,  and  con- 
siderably deepconvictions.ofilieir  miserable  state,  seem  also 
to  have  got  peace  again  to  their  consciences  without  getting 
it  by  a  true  faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus;  affording  no  satisfying 
evidence  of  tiieir  being  savingly  renewed.  But,  through 
the  infinite  rich  grace  of  God  (blessed  be  his  glorious 
.name  !)  there  is  a  considerable  number  who  afford  all  the 
evidence  that  can  be  reasonably  expected  and  required  for 
our  satisfaction  in  the  case,  of  their  having  been  the  sub- 
jects of  a  thorough  saving  change  :  (except  in  some  singu- 
lar instances  of  behaviour,  which  alas  I  i)rocced  from, 
and  shew  the  sad  remains  of  original  corruption  even  in 
the  regenerate  children  of  God,  v/hile  in  this  imperfect 
state)  their  walk  is  habitually  tender  and  conscientious, 
their  carriage  towards  their  neighbours  just  and  kind,  and 
they  appear  to  haye  an  agreeable  peculiar  love  one  for  an- 
other ;  and  for  all  in  whom  appears  the  image  of  God. 
Their  discourses  of  religion,  their  engagedness  and  disposi- 
tions of  soul  in  the  practice  of  the  immediate  duties  and  or- 
dinances of  religion,  all  appear  quite  otherwise  than  I'ormer- 
ly.  Indeed,  the  liveliness  of  their  aiTcctions  in  the  ways  of 
religion  is  much  abated  in  general,  and  they  are  in  some 
measure  humbly  sensibly  of  this  and  grieved  for  it,  and  are 
carefully  endeavouring  still  to  live  unto  God  ;  much  grieved 
with  their  imperfections  and  the  plagues  they  find  in  their 
own  hearts  ;  and  frequently  they  meet  with  some  delightful 
enliveningsofsoul ;  and,  particularly,  our  sacramental  solem- 
nities for  communicating  in  the  Lord's  Supper,  have  general- 
ly been  very  blessed  seasons  of  enlivening  and  enlargement 
to  the  people  of  God.  There  is  a  very  evident  and  great 
increase  of  Christian  knowledge  with  many  of  them.  We 
enjoy  in  this  c^gregalion  the  happiness  of  a  great  degree 
of  harmony  and  concord  ;  scarcely  any  have  appeared  vrith 
open  opposition  and  bitterness  against  the  Avork  of  God 
among  us,  and  clseAvhere  up  and  down  the  land :  though 
there  arc  a  pretty  many  such  in  several  other  places  through 
the  country  :  some,  indeed,  in  this  congregation,  but  very 
few,  have  separated  from  us  and  joined  with  the  minister? 
Avho  have  unhappily  opposed  this  blessed  work. 


THE     Ui:V.    SAMUKL    BLAIR.  279 

"'  It  would  liave  been  a  great  advantage  to  this  account, 
had  I  been  careful  in  time  to  have  written  down  the  experi- 
ences of  particular  persons:  but  this  I  neglected  in  the  pro- 
per season.  However,  I  have  more  lately  noted  down  an 
account  of  some  of  the  soul  exercises  and  experiences  of  one 
person,  which  I  think  may  be  proper  to  make  public  on  this 
occasion.  The  person  is  a  single  young  woman,  but  1 
judge  it  proper  to  conceal  her  name,  because  she  is  yet  liv- 
ing. I  was  very  careful  to  be  exact  in  the  afi'air,  both  in 
my  conversing  with  her,  and  writing  the  account  she  gave 
me  of  herself,  immediately  after.  And  though  I  don't  pre- 
tend to  give  her  very  words  for  the  most  part,  yet  I  am  well 
satisfied  I  don't  misrepresent  what  she  related.  The  ac- 
count then  is  this;' she  was  first  brought  to  some  solemn 
though tfuliiess  and  concern  about  her  soul's  case,  by  seeing 
others  so  much  concerned  about  their  souls:  when  she  saw 
people  in  deep  dislress  about  the  state  of  their  souls,  she 
thought  with  herself,  how  unconcerned  she  w^as  about  her 
own.  And  though  she  thought  that  she  had  not  been  very 
gnilty  of  great  sins,  yet  she  feared  she  was  too  little  concerned 
about  her  eternal  well-being:  and  then  the  sermons  she 
heard  made  her  still  uneasy  about  her  case  ;  so  that  she 
Avould  go  home  on  the  Sabbath  evenings,  pretty  much 
troublcd'and  cast  down  ;  which  concern  used  to  abide  with 
her  for  a  few  days  after,  but  siill,  towards  the  end  of  the  week 
she  would  become  pretty  easy  ;  and  then,  by  hearing  the 
word  on  the  Sabbath  days,  her  uneasiness  was  always  re- 
newed for  a  few  days  again.  And  thus  it  fared  with  her, 
until  one  day  as  she  was  hearing  a  sermon  preached  from 
Heb.  iii.  15  :  *  To  day  if  you  will  hear  his  voice,  harden  not 
your  hearts.'  The  minister,  in  the  sermon,  spoke  to  this  effect, 
<  How  many  of  you  have  been  hearing  the  gospel  for  a  long 
time,  and  yet  your  hearts  remain  always  hard,  without  being 
made  better  by  it :  the  gospel  is  the  voice  of  God,  but  you 
have  heard  it  only  as  the  voice  of  man  and  not  the  voice  of 
God,  and  so  have  not  been  benefited  by  it.'  These  words 
came  with  power  to  her  heart.  She  saw  that  this  was  lier 
very  case  ;  and  she  had  an  awful  sense  of  the  sin  of  her  mis- 
improvement  of  the  gobpci,  of  her  stupidilv,  hardness  and 

R 


280  THE   nr^v.  samuel  blaii;. 

unprofitableness  under  the  hearing  of  the  word  of  God.  She 
saw  that  she  was  hereby  exposed  to  ihe  sin-puniihing  jus- 
tice of  God,  and  so  was  filled  with  very  great  fear  and  ter- 
ror :  but  she  said  there  was  no  otlicr  sin  at  that  time  applied 
to  her  conscience,  neither  did  she  see  herself  as  altogether 
without  Christ. 

"  This  deep  concern,  on  the  fore-mentioned  account,  stuck 
pretty  close  by  her  afterwards.  There  was  a  society  of  pri- 
vate Christians  to  meet  in  the  neighbourhood,  some  day 
after,  in  the  same  weelc,  for  reading,  prayer,  and  religious 
conference.  She  had  nut  been  at  a  society  of  that  kind  be- 
fore, but  she  longed  very  much  for  the  time  of  their  meet- 
ing then,  that  she  might  go  there:  and  while  she  was 
there,  she  got  an  awful  view  of  her  sin  and  corruption,  and 
saw  that  she  was  without  Christ  and  without  grace  ;  and 
her  exercise  and  distress  of  soul  was  such,  that  it  made 
her  for  a  while  both  deaf  and  blind;  but  she  said  she 
had  the  ordinary  use  of  her  understanding,  and  begged 
that  Christ  might  not  leave  her  to  perish,  for  she  saw 
she  was  undone  without  him.  After  this  she  lived  in 
bitterness  of  soul :  and  at  another  time  she  had  such  a  view 
of  her  sinfulness,  of  the  holiness  and  justice  of  God,  and  the 
danger  she  was  in  of  eternal  misery,  as  filled  her  with  ex- 
treme anguish  ;  so  that  had  it  not  been  that  she  was  sup- 
ported by  an  apprehension  of  God's  all-sufficiency,  she  told 
me.  she  was  persuaded,  she  should  have  fallen  immediately 
into  despair.  She  conliuued  for  some  weeks  in  great  dis- 
tress of  spirit,  seeking  and  pleading  for  mercy  without  any 
comfort ;  unlil  one  Sabbath  evening,  in  a  house  Avhere  she 
was  lodged,  during  the  time  of  a  sacramental  solemnity, 
while  the  family  were  singing  the  84th  Psalm,  her  soul 
conceived  strong  hopes  of  reconciliation  with  God  through 
Jesus  Christ,  and  she  had  such  apprehensions  of  the  happi- 
ness of  the  heavenly  state,  that  her  heart  was  filled  with 
joy  unspeakable  and  full  of  glory  ;  she  sung  with  such  ele- 
vation of  soul,  as  if  she  had  sung  out  of  herself,  as  she  ex- 
pressed it  ;  she  thought  at  the  time,  it  was  as  if  the  Lord 
had  put  by  the  veil  and  showed  her  the  open  glory  of  heaven : 
she  had  very  enlarged  views  of  the  sufficiency  of  Christ  to 


THE    RKV.    SAMUKI,    ELAIR.  281 

«ave:  she  was  clearly  persuaded,  to  the  fullest  satisfaction,  that  there 
was  merit  enough  in  him  to  answer  for  the  sins  of  the  most  guilty 
sinner;  and  she  saw  that  God  could  well  be  reconciled  to  all  elect 
sinners  in  his  Son  ;  which  was  a  most  ravishing,  delightful  scene  of 
contemplation  to  her. 

"  But  while  she  was  in  this  frame,  after  some  lime  she  thought 
with  herself,  that  notwithstanding  all  this,  yet  she  could  not  with 
the  full  assurance  of  faith  lay  claim  to  the  Lord  Jesus  as  her  own 
Saviour,  in  particular-,  she  could  not  say  with  such  full  satisfaction 
and  certainty  as  she  desired,  that  he  wculd  be  a  Saviour,  in  particular, 
to  her;  and  hence,  for  want  of  thoroughly  understanding  wherein 
the  very  essence  of  a  saving  faith  consitts,  she  had  some  jealous  fear 
-ihat  she  was  not  yet  brought  truly  to  believe  in  Christ.  However, 
she  was  pietty  free  from  her  former  terrors,  after  this  sweet  interview. 
But  after  some  time,  she  grew  more  di^^consolato,  and  more  sensibly 
afraid  of  her  state,  on  the  forementioncd  account  :  she  heard  that 
sinners  in  closing  with  Christ  by  faitli,  received  him  for  their  Saviour, 
which  she  thought  included  in  it  a  persuasion  that  he  was  their'sj 
in  particular,  and  she  could  not  clearly  say  that  this  had  ever  been 
her  case ;  and  so  she  came  awfully  to  suspect  herself  to  be  as  yet  an 
unbeliever;  and  though  she  came  in  time  to  that  sweet  plerophory^ 
«nd  full  assurance  of  failh ;  yet  she  has  since  seen  her  mistake  in 
that  matter  about  the  nature  of  a  true  and  saving  faith.  She  con- 
tinued very  much  under  those  grievous  dejections,  for  about  two 
years,  and  yet  enjoyed  considerable  sviTdnets  and  comfort,  at  times. 
She  often  came  to  hear  sermons  with  a  dA-irc  to  get  clearly  convinced 
of  her  being  yet  in  a  Christlcss  state,  and  with  a  formed  resolution 
to  take  and  apply  to  herself  what  might  be  said  in  the  scrnron  to  the 
unconverted;  but  most  commonly  she  returned  very  agreeably  dis- 
appointed ;  she  would  generally  hear  some  mark  of  grace,  some  ew- 
dence  of  a  real  Christian  laid  down,  which  she  could  lay  claim  to, 
and  could  not  deny  ;  and  thus  she  was  supported  and  comforted, 
from  time  to  time.  During  tlicse  two  year?,  it  was  still  with 
much  fear  and  perplexity  that  she  advei.luied  to  communicate  in  the 
Lord's  Supix-r ;  but  she  could  not  omit  it ;  and  she  always  found 
some  refreshing  and  sweetness,  by  that  ordinance. 

"  After  she  had  been  so  long  under  an  almo?t  alternate  succession 

-of  troubles  and  supports,  the  sun  of  righteousness  at  last  broke  out 

upon  her,  to  the  clear  satisfaction  and  unspeakable  ravishment  of  her 

iBOul,  at  a  con)inunion  table.     There  her   niiiul  was  Jet  into  the  glori- 

R2 


282  'run   hkv.  samt-ei.   hi. air. 

ous  mysteries  of  reJ<mj)tion,  w  iili  great  cril.irgpmenl ;  wliil*  she  mai- 
itated  on  the  suflferiDgs  uf  tlir  Lord  Jc.hus,  slie  tliou^lit  with  herself, 
he  was  not  merely  a  man  who  KufVered  so  ^r  sinnerH,  but  infinitely 
more  than  man,  even  the  most.  Iiii»li  G«k],  the  eternal  Son,  c(]ual  with 
the  Father :  and  she  saw  lii.s  being  God,  put  an  infinite  lustre  and 
value  upon  bis  BulVcrings  an  man  ;  her  heart  was  Oiled  with  a  most 
unutterable  admiration  of  his  person,  his  merit  and  his  love:  i>be  was 
enabled  to  believe  in  him  with  a  strong  self-evidencing  faith  ;  she  be- 
lieved that  he  had  sufllTcd  for  her  sins ;  that  she  was  the  very  person 
who  by  her  bins  had  occasioned  his  sufTerings,  and  brought  dgony 
and  pain  upon  him.  The  consideration  of  this  filled  her  with  the 
deepest  abhorrence  of  her  sins,  and  most  bitter  grief  for  them  ;  she 
said  she  could  have  desired  with  all  her  heart  to  have  melted  and 
dissolved  her  body  quite  away  in  that  very  place,  in  lamentation  and 
mourning  over  Iicr  sins.  After  this  enjoyment,  l>€r  soul  was  gener- 
ally delighting  in  God,  and  .she  had  much  of  the  light  of  his  counte- 
nance with  her :  and  Oh  !  her  great  concern  still  was,  how  she  might 
live  to  the  Lord,  how  she  might  do  anything  for  him,  and  give  hon- 
our to  him.  The  Lord  condescended  to  be  much  with  her  by  his 
enlivening  and  comforting  presence,  and  especially,  sacramental  sea- 
sons were  blessed  and  precious  seasons  to  her.  At  one  of  those  oc- 
casions, she  was  in  a  sweet  frame,  meditating  on  the  blood  and  water 
that  issued  from  the  wound  n>ade  by  the  spear  in  her  Saviour's  side  ; 
she  thought,  as  water  is  of  a  purifying  cleansing  nature,  so  there  was 
sanctifying  virtue  as  well  as  justifying  merit  in  the  Lord  Jesus;  and 
that  she  could  no  more  be  without  the  water,  his  sanctifying  grace 
to  cleanse  her  very  polluted  soul,  than  she  could  be  without  his  blood 
to  do  away  her  guilt:  and  her  heart  was  much  taken  up  with  the 
beauty  and  excellency  of  sanctificalion.  At  another  time,  a  com- 
munion solemnity  likewise,  she  was  very  full  of  delight  and  wonder 
with  the  thoughts  of  electing  love;  how  that  God  had  p'ovided  and 
determined  so  great  things  for  her  before  ever  she  had  a  being.  And 
a  very  memorable  enjoyment  she  had  at  another  tir.iC,  on  Monday 
after  a  communion  Sabbath,  when  these  words  came  to  her  mind, '  The 
Spirit  and  the  bride  say  come,  and  let  him  that  is  athirst  come,  and 
whosoever  will  let  him  take  tlic  water  of  life  freely.'  The  glorv  and 
delight  let  in  upon  her  soul  by  these  words  was  so  great,  that  it  quite 
overcame  her  bodily  frame :  she  said  it  seemed  to  her  that  she  was 
almost  all  spirit,  and  that  the  body  was  quite  laid  by  ;  and  she  was 
sonaetimes  in  hopes  tlu«,t  the  vmion  wauld  actually  break,  and  the  so»\ 


THE    REV.    SAMUEL    CLAIR.  283 

get  quite  away.     She  saw  much  at  that  time  into  tlie  meaning  of  her 
Lord  in  those  words,  '  Because  I  live  ye  shall  live  also.' 

"Respecting  a  time  of  sickness  she  had,  concerning  which  I 
enquired  of  her,  she  told  me,  she  expected  pretty  much  to  die  then, 
and  was  very  joyful  at  the  near  prospect  of  her  change;  and  sensi- 
bly grieved  to  find  herself  recover  again,  chiefly  because,  that  while 
she  lived  here  she  was  so  frail  and  sinful,  and  could  do  so  little  for 
the  Lord's  honour.  I  was  with  her  in  the  time  of  that  sickness,  and 
indeed,  I  scarcely  ever  saw  one  appearing  to  be  so  fully  and  sweetly 
satisfied  under  the  afflicting  hand  of  God  ;  she  manifestly  appeared 
to  lie  under  it  with  a  peaceful  serenity  and  divine  sweetness  in  her 
whole  soul.  In  a  word,  her  whole  deportment  in  the  world,  bespeaks 
much  humility  and  heavenlincss  of  spirit. 

"One  of  our  Christian  friends,  a  man  about  fifty  years  of  age, 
was  removed  from  us  by  death  in  the  beginnning  of  May  last ;  of 
whom  I  can  give  some  broken  imperfect  account,  which  perhaps  may 
be  of  some  use.  His  name  was  Hanse  Kiikpatrick:  he  was  a  man 
of  a  pretty  good  understanding,  and  had  been,  I  believe,  a  sober  pro- 
fessor for  many  years,  though  he  had  not  been  very  long  in  America- 
After  the  work  of  religion  began  so  powerfully  amongst  us,  I  found 
in  conversation  with  him,  that  he  believed  it  to  be  a  good  work,  but 
seemed  very  unwilling  to  give  up  his  good  opinion  of  his  own  case  : 
he  told  me  of  some  concern  and  trouble  he  had  been  in  about  his 
soul  in  his  younger  years  ;  but  yet  the  case  looked  suspicious  that 
he  had  got  case  in  a  legal  way,  upon  an  outward  form  of  religion- 
At  another  time,  being  at  his  house,  and  taking  up  a  little  book  that 
lay  by  me  on  the  table,  which  I  found  to  be  Mr.  Mather's  dead  faith 
anatomized,  and  self-justiciary  convicted,'  he  said  to  me,  that  was  in- 
deed a  strange  book  as  ever  he  saw,  and  that  according  to  that  au- 
thor, it  was  a  great  thing  indeed  to  have  a  right  faith  that  was  true 
and  saving,  another  thing  than  it  was  generally  supposed  to  be ;  or 
to  this  purpose.  He  seemed  to  me  at  that  time  to  be  under  more 
fears  about  his  own  case  than  I  had  observed  in  him  before.  Not 
long  after  this,  as  he  was  hearing  a  sermon,  one  day,  the  word  was 
applied  with  irresistible  evidence  and  power  to  his  heart,  so  that  he 
saw  himself  as  yet  in  a  perishing  undone  case  :  whereupon,  the  dis- 
tress and  exercise  of  his  soul  was  so  great,  that  he  fell  ofTlhe  seat  on 
which  he  was  sitting,  and  wept  and  cried,  very  bitterly.  A  little 
after  this  he  went  to  Philadelphia,  at  the  time  of  the  meeting  of  the 
synod,  in  hopcT  that  p"rlino'-.  he  might  moot,  with  Fomo  benefit  tn  his 
R3 


2ftl  THK   ni:v.  sxMrr.i.   nr.AiK. 

soul,  hy  liratins  the  minititori  ].rracli  lliere,  or  by  conversing  wilh 
some  of  llicm.  He  told  nic  nfierwards,  that  while  ho  was  there,  and 
as  he  walked  the  Btrccta.  he  was  unsixjokably  diHtrcHHcd  wilh  the 
view  of  his  miserable  condition  ;  so  that  he  could  hardly  keep  hii 
distress  from  being  publicly  discerned  upon  him  :  and,  that  he  seemed 
sometimes  to  be  even  in  a  manner  afraid  that  the  streets  would  open 
and  swallow  up  such  a  wretched  creature.  He  told  me  of  his  trouble, 
and  his  very  sweet  relief  out  of  it,  in  a  most  moving  manner,  under 
a  very  fresh  sense  and  impression  of  both  ;  but  the  particulars  of  his 
relief,  I  have  quite  forgot. 

"  He  was  afterwards  chosen  and  set  apart  for  a  ruling  elder  in  the 
congregation.  lie  died  of  an  imposthumc,  and  eradually  wasted 
away  for  a  long  time  before  his  death,  and  was  for  about  two  months 
entirely  confined  to  his  bed.  He  told  me,  that  fn  some  time  before 
he  was  laid  bedfast,  he  had  been  full  of  very  distressing  fears  and 
jealousies  about  his  soul's  stale,  and  was  altogether  unsatisljed  about 
his  interest  in  Christ ;  but  that  soon  after  he  was  confined  to  his 
bed,  the  Lord  afforded  him  his  comforting  presence,  cleared  up  his 
interest,  and  removed  his  fears.  Afler  this,  he  continued  still  clear 
and  peaceful  in  his  soul,  and  sweetly  and  wholly  resigned  to  the 
Lord's  will,  until  death.  While  he  had  strength  to  speak  much,  he 
was  free  and  forward  to  discourse  of  God  and  divine  things.  One 
time,  as  two  other  of  our  elders  were  wilh  him,  he  exhorted  them  to 
continue  steadfast  and  faithful  to  God's  truths  and  cause;  for,  he  said, 
if  he  had  a  thousand  souls,  he  could  freely  venture  them  all  upon  the 
doctrines  which  had  been  taught  them  in  this  congregation.  Ono 
time  when  I  took  leave  of  him,  he  burst  out  into  tears,  saying, '  I  had 
been  the  me-senger  of  the  Lord  of  hosts  to  him  that  the  Lord  had 
sent  to  call  him  out  of  the  broad  way  of  destruction.'  For  some 
days  before  his  decease,  he  could  speak  but  very  little,  but  to  all  ap- 
pearance, with  a  great  deal  of  serenity  and  sweetness  of  soul,  he  fell 
asleep  in  Jesus. 

"There  have  been  very  comfoi table  instances  of  little  children, 
among  us.  Two  sisters,  the  one  being  about  seven,  the  other  about 
nine  years  of  age,. were  hopefully  converted,  that  summer,  when  reli- 
gion was  so  much  revived  here.  I  discoursed  with  them  both  very 
lately,  and  from  their  own  account,  and  the  account  of  their  pa- 
rents, there  appears  to  have  been  a  lasting  and  thorough  change 
wrought  in  them.  They  speak  of  their  soul  experiences  with  a  very 
becoming  giavity,  and  apparent  impression  of  the  things  they  speak  of, 

"  The  youngest  was  awakened  by  hearing  the  word  preached  :  she 


THE    REV.    SAMUEL    BLAIR.  285 

told  me  she  heard  in  sermons,  that  except  persons  were  convinced  and 
converted,  they  would  surely  go  to  hell ;  and  she  knew  she  was  not 
converted.  This  set  her  to  praying  with  great  earnestness,  with  tears 
and  cries ;  yet  her  fears  and  distress  continued  for  several  days,  until, 
one  time,  as  she  was  praying,  her  heart,  she  said,  was  drawn  out  in 
great  love  to  God  ;  and,  as  she  thought  of  heaven,  and  heing  with 
God,  she  was  filled  with  sweetness  and  delight:  I  could  not  find  by 
her,  that  she  hud  at  that  time  any  explicit  particular  thoughts  about 
Christ  as  a  Redeemer,  but,  she  said,  she  knew  then  that  Christ  had 
died  for  sinners.  She  told  me,  she  often  found  such  delight  and  love 
to  God  since,  as  she  did  then,  and  at  such  times,  she  was  very  will- 
ing to  die  that  she  might  be  with  God  :  but  she  said,  she  was  some- 
times afraid  yet  of  going  to  hell.  1  asked  her, '  If  she  was  troubled  at 
any  time  when  she  was  not  afraid  of  going  to  hell  V  She  said, 
'  yes;'  I  asked  her,  'what  she  was  troubled  for,  then  V  she  said,  '  be- 
cause she  had  done  ill  to  God  ;'  meaning,  that  she  had  done  evil,  and 
sinned  against  God.  Some  time  after  she  first  found  comfort,  one 
night,  when  her  father  and  all  the  rest  of  the  family,  but  her  mother 
and  herself,  were  gone  to  a  private  society,  she  said  to  her  mother, 
'  that  the  people  were  singing  and  praying,  where  her  father  was 
gone,'  and  desired  her  mother  to  do  the  same  with  lier :  and  after 
they  were  gone  to  bed,  '  she  desired  her  mother  to  sing  some  psalms 
which  she  had  by  heart,  for  she  said,  she  did  not  want  to  go  to  sleep. 

"  Her  sister  was  brought  into  trouble  about  her  soul,  that  same 
summer,  by  sickness.  It  coni.inucd  with  her  some  time  after  her  re- 
covery ;  until  one  day,  coming  home  from  meeting,  as  she  heard 
some  people  speaking  about  Christ  and  heaven,  her  heart  was 
inflamed  with  love  to  Christ.  She  says,  that  '  when  she  has  Christ's 
presence  with  her,  she  does  not  know  what  to  do  to  get  away  and  be 
with  God.'  Their  patents  told  me,  that  for  a  long  time  they  seemed  to 
be  almost  wholly  taken  up  in  religion  :  that  no  weather,  through  the 
extremity  of  winter,  would  hinder  them  from  going  out  daily  to  by- 
places  for  secret  prayer  ;  and  if  anything  came  in  the  way  that  they 
could  not  get  out  for  prayer,  at  such  times  as  they  inclined  and  thought 
most  proper,  they  would  weep  and  cry.  Their  parents  say  they  are 
very  obedient  children,  and  strict  observers  of  the  Sabbath. 

"  Tlicrc  are  likewise  other  young  ones  in  the  place,  of  whom  I 
know  nothing  to  the  contrary,  but  what  they  continue  hopeful  and 
religious,  to  this  day. 

♦'  This  blessed  shower  of  divine  influences,  spread    very    much 


iSfi  j'Hi':   ui:v.   samlki.   ui.Ain. 

through  this  province,  ihnt  summer :  and  was  likewise  coiiHidciable  in 
some  other  pinces,  bordering  upon  it.   The  accounts  of  some  miniistcri) 
being  something  distinguished  by  their  searching,  awakening  doctrine, 
and  solemn  pathetic  manner  of  address,  andjhc  news  of  the  effecta 
of  their  preaching  upon   their   hearers,  seemed  in  some  measure  to 
awaken  people    iFirough  the   country,  to  consider  their  careless  and 
formal  way  of  going   on  in  religion  ;  and  very    much  excited  their 
desires  to  hear  those  ministers.     There  were  several  vacant  congrega- 
tions without   any  settled  pastors,  which  earnestly  begged   for  their 
visits  :  and  several  ministers  who  did  not  appear  heartily  to  put  their 
shoulder  to  help  in  carrying  on  the  same  work,  yet  then  )ielded  to 
the  pressing  importunities  of  their  people,  in  inviting  those  brethren 
to  preach  in  their  pulpits :  so  that  they  were  very  much  called  abroad , 
and  employed  in  incessant  labours,  and  the  Lord  wrought  with  them, 
mightily.     Very  great  assemi)Iics  would  ordinarily  meet  to  hear  them, 
on  any  day  of  the  week;  and,  oftentimes,  a  surprising  power  accom- 
panying their   preaching,  was   visible  among  the  multitudes  of  their 
hearers.     It  was  a  very  comfortable  enlivening  time  to  God's  people  • 
and  great  numbers  of  secure  careless  professors,  and  many  loose 
irreligious  persons,  through  tiie  land,  were  deeply  convinced  of  their 
miserable  perishing  estates  ;  and  there  is  abundant  reason  to  believe 
and    be    satisfied,   that  many    of    them    were    in  the   issue,    sav- 
ingly converted  to  God.     I  myself,  have  had  occasion   to  converse 
with  a  great  many  up  and  down,  who  have  given  a  most  agreeable 
account  of  very  precious  and  clear  experiences  of  the  grace  of  God. 
Several,  even  in  Baltimore,  a  county  in  the  province  of  Maryland, 
who  were  brought   up  almost  in   a  state  of  heathenism,   without 
almost  any  knowledge  of  the  true  doctrines  of  Christianity,  aflbrd 
very  satisfying  evidences  of  being  brought  to  a  saving  acquaintance 
with  God  in  Christ  Jesus. 

"Thus,  Sir,  I  have  endeavoured  to  give  a  brief  account  of  the  re- 
vival of  religion  among  us,  in  these  parts  ;  in  which  I  have  endea- 
voured, all  along,  to  be  eonscientiously  exact,  in  relating  things  ac- 
cording to  the  naked  truth  :  knowing,  that  I  must  not  speak  wickedly, 
even  for  God  ;  nor  talk  deceitfully,  for  Him. 

"  And  upon  the  whole,  I  must  say,  it  is  beyond  all  dispute  with 
me,  and  I  think  it  is  beyond  all  reasonable  contradiction,  that  God 
has  carried  on  a  great  and  glorious  work  of  his  grace  among  us. 
"  I  am,  Rev  Sir, 

"  Your  very  respectful  son  and  servant, 

"  S?AMV£t  Blur. 


THE     REV.    SAMUEL    BLAIR.  287 

"  Rev.  Sin. 
"  Having  an   opportunity   of  obtaining  these   attestations  before 
sending  my  letter  to  you,  I  send  them  also  along,  if  you  please  they 
may  be  inserted  in  the  Christian  History,  at  the  end  of  my  account. 

S.  B. 

"  New  Londonderry,  August  7th,  1744. 
"We  the  subset ibers,  ruling  elders,  in  the  congregation  of 
New  Londonderry,  do  give  our  testimony  and  attestation  to  the 
above  account  of  the  revival  of  religion  in  this  congregation  and  other 
parts  of  this  country,  so  far  as  the  said  account  relates  to  things  that 
were  open  to  public  observation,  and  such  things  as  we  have  had  op- 
portunity of  being  acquainted  with.  Particularly,  we  testify,  that 
there  has  been  a  great  and  very  general  awakening  among  people, 
whereby  they  have  been  stirred  up  to  an  earnest  uncommon  concern 
and  diligence  about  their  eternal  salvation,  according  to  the  above 
account  of  it :  and,  that  many  give  very  comfortable  evidence  by 
their  knowledge,  declaration  of  experience,  and  conscientious  prac- 
tice, of  their  being  savingly  changed  and  turned  to  God. 

James  CociinAN",  John  Smith, 

John  Ramsat,  John  Simsox, 

John  Love,  Wji.  Boro." 

Mr.  Samuel  Blair  was  truly  a  burning  and  a 
shining  light :  but  like  many  others  of  this  descrip- 
tion, while  he  warmed  and  enlightened  others,  he 
himself  was  consumed.  Though  his  life  was  pro- 
tracted beyond  the  age  attained  by  Davies  and 
Brainerd  ;  yet  he  may  be  said  to  have  died  young ; 
for  from  the  inscription  on  his  tomb,  it  appears,  that 
he  was  only  thirty-nine  years,  and  twenty-one  days 
old,  when  he  was  taken  away.  His  remains  lie  in 
the  burying  ground  of  Fagg's  Manor ;  where  his 
tomb  may  yet  be  seen.     The  whole  hiscription  is, 


36S  THE     P.F.V.    SAMITI.    ni.AIrt. 

"Here  lielli  the  body  of 
The   Rev.   Samuel   Blair, 
Who  departed  this  life, 
The  5ih  day  of  July  1751. 
Aged   39   years  and  21   days." 
"  In  yonder  sacred  house  1  spent  ray  breath. 
Now  silent,  mouldering,  here  I  lie  in  death  ; 
These  lips  shall  wake  and  yet  declare, 
A  dread  amen,  to  truths  they  published  there." 

Mr.  Bjair  was  one  of  tlio  most  learned  and  pro- 
found, as  well  as  pious,  excellent,  and  venerable  men 
of  his  day.  His  deep  and  clear  views  as  a  theologian, 
are  sufficiently  evident  from  his  treatise  on  "  Predes- 
tination," where  this  awful  and  mysterious  doctrine 
is  treated  with  the  hand  of  a  master. 

As  a  preacher,  Mr.  Blair  was  very  eminent. 
There  was  a  solemnity  in  his  very  appearance, 
which  struck  his  hearers  with  awe,  before  he  opened 
his  mouth.  And  his  manner  of  preaching,  while  it 
was  truly  evangelical  and  instructive,  was  exceed- 
ingly impressive.  He  spoke  as  in  the  view  of  eter- 
nity, as  in  the  immediate  presence  of  God.  The 
opinion  which  INIr.  Davies  entertained  of  Mr.  Blair 
as  a  preacher,  may  be  learned  from  an  anecdote  re- 
ceived from  Dr.  Rodgers,  by  a  person  still  living.* 
"  When  the  Rev.  Samuel  Davies  returned  from  Eu- 
rope, his  friends  were  curious  to  learn  his  opinion  of 
the  celebrated  preachers,  whom  he  had  heard  in 
England  and  Scotland.     After  dealing  ont   liberal 

-Rer.  Dr.  Miller. 


THE    REV.    SAMLfEJ.    BLAIR.  289 

commendations  on  such  as  he  had  most  admired,  he 
concluded  by  saying,  that  he  had  heard  no  one,  who, 
in  his  judgment,  was  superior  to  his  former  teacher, 
the  Rev.  Samuel  Blair. 

Mr.  Blair  was  intimately  associated  with  Mr.  Gil- 
bert Tcnnent,  in  all  his  controversies  with  the  synod 
of  Philadelphia.  He  concurred  in  all  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  New  Brunswick  presbytery,  in  which 
they  acted  in  opposition  to  the  rule  of  the  synod, 
requiring  candidates  to  be  examined  by  a  committee 
of  their  appointment ;  and  in  preaching  within  the 
bounds  of  settled  congregations,  where  the  people 
requested  it.  He  also  united  with  Mr.  Tennent  in 
presenting  to  the  synod  complaints  against  the  mem- 
bers of  that  body,  by  which  proceedings  the  minds 
of  the  majority  of  the  synod  were  so  exasperated, 
that  they  introduced  a  solemn  protest  against  the 
New  Brunswick  brethren,  which  led  to  an  imme- 
diate separation  of  the  parties ;  a  schism  which  con- 
tinued seventeen  years,  before  it  could  be  healed ; 
as  has  been  already  related.  To  ascertain,  at  this 
time,  which  of  the  parties  were  most  to  blame  in 
these  unhappy  controversies  and  divisions,  is  not 
easy.  Faults  undoubtedly  there  were  on  both  sides. 
The  Old  Side,  were  much  to  blame  in  setting  them- 
selves in  opposition  to  the  revival  of  religion,  which 
had  so  gloriously  commenced.  By  doing  so,  they 
incurred  a  fearful  responsil)ility.  That  Tennent  and 
Blair  (lansffrcsscd  the  rules  of  order,  cannot  be  dc- 


S90  'IHB    REV.    SAMIEI.    r.l-AIR. 

iiied.     They  disobcyf^tl  the  synod,  and  entered  into 
the  congregations  of  their  brethren   without   their 
consent.     Whether  in  these  things  they  were  excu- 
sable, will  doj)ciid  u[)on  the  true  state  of  the  church- 
•  es,  at  that  time.     Our  Saviour  and  his  apostles,  dis- 
regarded the  orders  of  the  priests  and  of  the  syna- 
gogue.    And  Luther  and  the  other  Reformers,  did 
not  feel  themselves  bound  by  the  authority  of  the 
popish  magistracy  and  priesthood.     Every  minister 
holds  a  commission  to  preach  the  gospel  to  every 
creature,  to  whom  he  can  gain  access ;  and  if  a  cer- 
tain number  of  people,  who  arc  anxious  to  hear  the 
gospel,  happen,  by  human  arrangements,  to  be  cir- 
cumscribed within  the  limits  of  a  parish,  over  which 
another  has  charge ;  and  if  this  nominal  pastor  is 
believed  not  so  to  preach  the  gospel  as  to  lead  the 
people  in  the  way  of  salvation,  why  may  not  the 
faithful   preacher   disregard  these  human  arrange- 
ments intended  to  promote  order,  and  carry  the  gos- 
pel to  those  who  are  thirsting  for  the  word  of  life  ? 
Isio   doubt,    the  principle  is  liable  to  great  abuse, 
and  may  occasion    great    disorder,    and    result  in 
much  more  evil  than  good.     The  question  in  regard 
to  these  devoted  men  is,  whether  the  people  in  the 
congregations  of  their  opponents  were  really  in  such 
a  perishing  condition  as  would  authorize  them  to 
overleap  the  fence,  which,  for  the  sake  of  order,  had 
been  set  up.     And  this  is  the  point  which,  in  my 
opinion,  we  are  incapable  of  deciding.     Men  may 


Till:    UEV.    SAMT'EI.    RT.ATR.  291 

continuR  to  maintain  in  theory  an  orthodox  creed, 
and  yet  may  manifest  such  deadly  hostility  to  vital 
piety,  that  they  must  be  considered  the  enemies  of 
the  cause  of  God,  and  tlie  v/ork  of  the  Spirit.  That 
the  opposers  of  the  revival,  at  that  time,  did  exhibit 
such  a  character  cannot  be  asserted  universally,  for 
some  of  them  appear  to  have  been,  in  the  main,  sin- 
cere Christians,  and  only  meant  to  set  themselves  in 
opposition  to  those  opinions  and  practices,  connected 
with  the  revival,  which  were  reprehensible. 

But  that  many  of  those  of  the  Old  Side,  manifest- 
ed a  malignity  of  spirit  against  the  revival,  which 
was  wicked  in  the  extreme,  I  entertain  no  doubt. 
I  have  heard  so  much  from  aged  persons  who  were 
living  in  the  midst  of  the  revival  ;  and  even  the  sub- 
jects of  it,  have  given  me  such  accounts  of  the  ma- 
lign spirit  with  which  the  whole  work  was  ridiculed 
and  opposed,  by  many,  that  I  caimot  doubt,  that, 
in  a  good  degree,  the  contest  between  the  parties, 
was,  between  the  friends  and  the  enemies  of  true  re- 
ligion. And  something  of  the  same  spirit  of  hostili- 
ty to  revivals  was  handed  down  to  our  own  times. 
I  have  known  men  of  high  standing  in  the  church, 
and  undoubted  learning,  who  derided  every  account 
of  revivals,  and  sudden  conversions,  as  fanatical  and 
foolish.  It  is,  therefore,  my  deliberate  opinion,  that 
in  the  general,  the  Tenncnts  and  Blairs,  and  their 
coadjutors,  were  men  approved  of  God,  and  greatly 
honoured,  as  the   instruments   of   winning   many 


2f)2  Tin:  r.KV,  sA>rrEr,  v.i.xin. 

souls  lo  CluLst ;  wliilc  their  opponents,  wen-  for  tli« 
most  part,  unfriendly  to  vital  piety. 

But  wliilc  I  consider  the  ministers  of  the  New- 
Brunswiek  presbytery,  and  their  coadjutors,  as  the 
real  friends  and  successful  promoters  of  true  religion, 
in  this  land,  I  do  not  mean  to  exonerate  them  from 
all  blame.  They  were  men,  and  liable  to  human 
imperfections.  Some  of  them  were  men  of  ardent 
temperament,  and  somewhat  overbearing  disposi- 
tion ;  and  under  the  influence  of  a  fervid  zeal,  they 
did  and  said  many  unadvised  things.  When  the 
state  of  the  church  became  more  settled,  and  tlie 
warmth  of  their  feelings  had  subsided,  they  them- 
selves viewed  matters  in  a  very  diflerent  light  from 
what  they  had  done,  in  the  heat  of  the  controversy. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

THE  RE\\  JOHN  BLAIR. 


Education — First  settlement — Driven  away  by  the  Indians — Is 
called  to  Fagg's  Manor — Continues  the  school — Elected  Professor 
of  Theology  in  Nassau  Hall — Resigns  on  the  arrival  of  Dr.  Wilh- 
erspoon — Kemoves  to  Orange  County,  N.  Y. — His  end — The  fam- 
ily of  the  Blairs. 

The  Rev.  John  Blair,  was  a  younger  brother 
of  the  person,  whose  memoir  is  given  in  the  preced- 
ing chapter.  He  was  also  an  ahimnus  of  tlic  Log 
College,  and  as  a  theologian  was  not  inferior  to  any 
man  in  the  Presbyterian  church,  in  his  day.  He 
was  first  settled  in  Pennsylvania,  at  Big  Spring 
(now  Newville)  in  the  Cumberland  Valley,  in  the 
vicinity  of  Carlisle.  Bat  by  reason  of  the  hostile 
incursion  of  the  Indians,  his  people  were  obliged  to 
leave  their  rude  habitations,  on  the  frontier,  and  to 
retreat  into  the  more  densely  populated  part  of  the 
colony.  Mr.  Blair,  it  would  seem,  never  returned 
to  the  place  whence  he  had  been  driven  by  the  in- 
vasion of  the  savages,  but  upon  the  decease  of  his 
brother  Samuel,  he  received  and  accepted  a  call  to 
ho  his  sucppssor.  nt   Faffs's   Manor:  and   thnt   not 


•^i)i  THE     RF.V,    JOHN     UI.AIK, 

only  as  pastor  of  the  cliiircli,  but  al.so  as  the  teafher 
of  the  school  which  his  brother  had  instituted  in 
that  i)Iace.  In  this  important  Nation  he  continued 
for  nine  years;  and  though  not  equal  to  his  brother 
as  an  impressive  preacher,  as  a  scholar  and  as  a 
theologian,  he  was  not  inferior. 

New  Jersey  College  having  been  founded  for  the 
very  purpose  of  giving  a  complete  education  to  can- 
didates for  the  ministry,  tliese  academies,  which  had 
done  so  much  for  the  church,  no  longer  had  the 
same  importance,  as  when  no  such  institution  ex- 
isted. Accordingly,  not  only  did  the  Log  College, 
at  'Neshaminy,  which  was  the  mother  institution, 
cease,  as  soon  as  tlie  college  was  erected,  but  the 
celebrated  school  at  Nottingham,  was  not  continued 
after  Dr.  Finley  was  chosen  president  of  Nassau 
Hall.  And  when  Dr.  Finley  died,  a  sum  of  money 
having  been  left  for  the  support  of  a  professor  of 
divinity ;  Mr.  John  Blair  was  elected,  professor  of 
theology,  in  the  College  of  New  Jersey.  This  invi- 
tation he  accepted,  and  removed  to  Princeton.  He 
was  also  appointed  vice  president  of  the  college, 
and  until  the  arrival  of  Dr.  Witherspoon,  performed 
all  the  duties  of  president. 

The  funds  of  the  college  not  being  adequate  to 
support  a  professor  of  theology,  distinct  from  the 
president ;  and  it  being  known  that  Dr.  Wither- 
spoon was  an  orthodox  and  eminent  theologian* 
who  could  consisfentlv  with  his  other  duties  tr ach 


THE    KEV.    JOIIX    BLAIR.  295 

theology,  Mr.  Blair  judged  it  would  bs  expedient 
for  him  to  resign.  Upon  this  he  received  a  call  to 
settle  as  pastor  of  a  Presbyterian  congregation  in 
Wallkill,  Orange  county,  New  York.  Here  he  con- 
tinued to  labour  in  the  duties  of  the  ministry,  until 
he  was  called  away  from  the  field,  by  death,  which 
occurred,  Dec.  8,  1771,  when  he  was  not  more  than 
fifty-one,  or  fifly-two  years  of  age. 

The  character  of  Mr.  John  Blair  is  thus  drawn,  by 
a  writer  of  a  sketch  of  his  life,  in  the  "Assembly's 
Magazine." 

"  John  Blair,  an  eminent  minister  of  Pennsylva- 
nia, was  ordained  to  the  pastoral  charge  of  three 
congregations  in  Cumberland  county,  as  early  as 
1742.  These  were  frontier  settlements,  and  ex- 
posed to  the  depredation  of  the  Indians,  with  whom 
a  state  of  war  then  existed  ;  and  he  was  obliged  to 
remove.  He  accepted  a  call  from  Fagg's  JNIanor, 
in  1757.  The  congregation  had  been  favoured 
with  the  ministry  of  his  brother,  Samuel  Blair.  And 
liere  he  continued  about  nine  years ;  and  besides 
discharging  the  duties  of  the  mhiistry,  he  superin- 
tended also  a  nourishing  grammar-school,  and  pre- 
pared ma^)S  young  men  for  the  ministry.  When 
the  presidency  of  New  Jersey  college  became  va- 
cant, by  the  death  of  Dr.  Finley,  he  was  chosen 
professor  of  divinity,  and  had  for  some  time,  the 
charge  of  that  seminary  before  the  arrival  of  Dr. 
Witherspoon. 


290  Tin:   hev.  .iomn   uj.Ain. 

-'  IIo  was  a  judicious  and  persuasive  prcaclicr, 
and  through  his  exertions  sinners  were  converted, 
and  the  children  of  God  edified.  Fully  convinced 
of  the  truth  of  the  doctrines  of  grace,  he  addressed 
immortal  souls  with  that  warmth  and  power,  which 
left  a  witness  in  every  bosom.  Though  he  some- 
times wrote  his  sermons  in  full,  yet  his  common 
mode  of  preaching  was  by  short  notes,  comprising 
the  general  outlines.  His  labours  were  too  abun- 
dant to  admit  of  more ;  and  no  more  was  necessary 
to  a  mind  so  richly  stored  with  the  great  truths  of 
religion.  For  his  large  family  he  amassed  no  for- 
tune, but  he  left  them  what  was  infinitely  better,  a 
religious  education,  a  holy  example,  and  prayers 
which  have  been  remarkably  answered.  His  dis- 
position was  uncommonly  patient,  placid,  benevo- 
lent, disinterested,  and  cheerful.  He  was  too  mild 
to  indulge  bitterness  or  severity ;  and  he  thought 
that  the  truth  required  little  else  but  to  be  fairly 
stated  and  properly  understood.  Those  who  could 
not  relish  the  savour  of  his  piety,  loved  him  as  an 
amiable,  and  revered  him  as  a  great  man.  Though 
no  bigot,  he  firmly  believed  that  the  presbyterian 
form  of  government  is  most  scriptural,  ffuri  the  most 
favourable  to  religion  and  happiness. 

"  In  his  last  sickness,  he  imparted  his  advice  to  the 
congregation,  and  represented  to  his  family  tlie  ne- 
cessity of  an  interest  in  Christ.  A  few  nights  before 
he  died,  he  said,  '  Directly,  I  am  gohig  to  glory — 
my  Master  calls  nic,  I  must  be  eonc.' " 


'I'ln:   REV.   JOHN   ni.AiK.  297 

Mr.  John  Bl:iir  lei'i  behind  liiin  a  tr>^atise  on  Re- 
generation, which  is  ably  writen  and  entirely  or- 
thodox. He  also  published  a  treatise  on  the  Scrip- 
tural Terms  of  admission  to  the  Lord's  Supper,  in 
which  he  maintains  that  ministers  and  church  offi- 
cers, have  no  more  authority  to  debar  those  who 
desire  to  attend,  from  the  Lord's  table,  than  from 
any  other  duty  of  God's  worship.  This  piece,  the 
kite  Rev.  J.  P.  Wilson,  D.  D.,  pastor  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  church,  Philadelphia,  had  republished 
in  a  small  selection  of  treatises  on  the  Lord's  Sup- 
per ;  from  which  it  may  be  inferred,  that  he  ap- 
proved the  sentiments  which  it  contains. 

It  is  always  gratifying  to  a  laudable  curiosity  to 
leani  something  respecting  the  families  and  descend- 
ants of  men  once  eminent  in  the  church  ;  although 
in  the  pursuit  of  this  knowledge,  we  often  meet  with 
mortifying  instances  of  a  sad  degeneracy.  But  when 
it  is  otherwise,  it  is  always  pleasing  to  the  pious 
mind  to  be  able  to  trace  eminent  piety  and  talents 
descending  from  generation  to  generation.  Two 
of  the  sisters  of  Samuel  and  John  Blair  were  mar- 
ried to  distinguished  ministers  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  :  the  one,  to  the  Rev.  John  Carmichael,  pas- 
tor of  the  church  at  the  Forks  of  Brandywine  ;  who 
was  also  an  eminent  patriot,  in  the  struggle  of  this 
country  for  indepandence.  The  other,  was  married 
to  the  Rev.  Robert  Smith,  D.D.,  of  Pequea,  the  fa- 
ther of  three  ministers,  who  wore  eminent   in  the 

S 


298  THE     ULV.    JOHN    BLAIR. 

Presbyterian  church,  and  two  of  Ihera  distinguished 
presidents  of  literary  institutions.  The  Rev.  Doctor 
Samuel  S.  Smith,  was  the  first  president  of  Hamp- 
den Sidney  College  in  Virginia,  and  then  the  im- 
mediate successor  of  Dr.  Witherspoon,  as  president 
of  New  Jersey  College  :  the  other,  the  Rev.  John 
B.  Smith,  D.D.,  who  succeeded  his  brother  as  presi- 
dent of  Hampden  Sidney,  and  was  afterwards,  the 
first  president  of  Union  College  in  Schenectady.  He 
was  an  eloquent,  evangelical,  and  successful  minis- 
ter. Under  his  ministry,  in  Virginia,  commenced 
a  powerful  and  extensive  revival,  the  influence  of 
which  extended  far  and  wide  through  the  state,  and 
also  to  North  Carolina,  and  Kentucky.  Mr.  Wil- 
liam Smith,  the  third  son,  was  a  pious,  judicious 
minister ;  less  distinguished  than  cither  of  his  bro- 
thers ;  but  lus  good  old  father  was  wont  to  say, 
that  though  William  was  inferior  to  his  brothers 
in  learning  and  eloquence,  yet  to  comfort  and  edify 
the  plain  Christian,  he  was  equal  to  either  of  them. 
The  Rev.  Samuel  Blair,  of  Fagg's  Manor,  had  a  son 
of  the  same  name,  who  was  considered  the  most 
accomplished  and  promising  young  minister  in  the 
Presbyterian  Church.  He,  at  an  earlj'  age,  received 
a  call  to  be  colleague  Vv'ith  the  Rev.  Mr.  Sewall,  in 
the  old  South  Church,  Boston.  Before  he  was 
licensed,  he  had  for  some  time  acted  as  a  tutor  in  his 
alma  mater.  The  estimation  in  which  he  was  held 
by  the  trustees  of  the  college,  may  be  learned  from 


TH£     RKV.    JOHN     LLAIR.  2*^9 

the  fact,  that  after  Dr.  Witherspoou  had  declmed  th3 
first  invitation  of  the  board,  young  Mr.  Blair  was 
elected  president,  before  he  was  thirty  years  of  age. 
But  soon  after  his  election,  intelligence  was  received 
from  Scotland,  that  if  the  call  were  repeated.  Dr. 
^Vitherspoon  would,  in  all  probability,  accept  the 
invitation.  As  soon  as  this  was  known  to  Mr.  Blair, 
he  immediately  wrote  to  the  president  of  the  board, 
declining  the  office.  This  prompt  and  generous  de- 
cision, freed  ihc  trustees  from  all  the  embarrassment 
in  which  otherwise  they  might  have  been  involved. 
Of  course,  the  election  of  Mr.  Blair  could  not  have 
been  known  to  Dr.  Witherspoou,  when  he  signified 
his  willingness  to  accept  tlie  appointment :  and  when 
he  understood  from  what  motives  Mr.  Blair  had 
declined  the  office,  he  was  much  affected  with  the 
disinterestedness  of  the  young  man,  and  often  spoke 
of  it  with  admiration. 

But  though  the  morning  of  ISIr.  Blair's  Ufe  was 
so  bright,  and  promised  so  much  to  the  church,  the 
sanguine  hopes  of  his  friends  were  far  from  being 
realized  in  his  future  usefulness.  By  being  ship- 
wrecked on  his  way  to  Boston,  he  was  much 
exposed ;  and  to  this  was  attributed  the  decline  of 
his  health  and  spirits.  He  also  lost,  at  this  time,  the 
whole  of  his  manuscript  sermons ;  a  loss  which 
could  not  be  suddenly  repaired,  and  which  affected 
his  spirits  not  a  little.     He,  therefore,  did  not  remain 

long  in  Boston,  but  returned  to  Pennsvlvania,  where 

So 


300  Tin:   Ki:v.  joiin   blaih. 

he  resided  at  liic  lioui;c  of  his  falhci-iii-lau',  Dr. 
Shipper),  in  Germautown,  and  was  very  Uttle  engaged 
in  the  duties  of  his  ofTicc,  afterwards ;  altliough  his 
hfe  was  protracted  to  a  good  old  age. 

The  writer  having  spent  several  summers  in  Ger- 
mantown,  before  Dr.  Blair's  decease,  had  the  oppor- 
tunity of  becoming  well  acquainted  with  him  ;  and 
found  him  to  be  a  man  of  great  refinement  of  mind, 
mild  and  amiable  in  disposition,  and  friendly  to 
evangelical  doctrine  aftd  practical  piety. 

From  the  history  of  this  popular  young  man,  it 
miay  be  inferred,  that  too  much  applause  is  a 
dangerous  thing  to  a  young  minister.  Another  re- 
mark which  may  be  made,  is,  that  for  a  young  man  to 
form  a  connexion,  by  marriage,  with  a  rich  and 
fashionable  family,  seldom  ever  works  well  for  his 
usefulness  in  the  ministry;  especially  if  his  partner 
is  of  a  gay  and  worldly  disposition.  And  lastly, 
that  speculation  on  deep  points  of  theology,  when 
the  mind  is  not  under  a  decided  spiritual  influence, 
is  always  attended  with  evil,  even  to  those  who  at 
bottom  are  sincerely  pious. 

One  of  the  daughters  of  Samuel  Blair,  Sen.,  was 
marrifid  to  a  young  minister  from  Virginia,  the  Rev. 
David  Rice,  and  became  the  mother  of  a  numerous 
progeny,  who  are  now  scattered  through  Virginia 
and  Kentucky,  to  Avhich  last  mentioned  place  Mr. 
Rice  removed,  and  on  the  rising  population  of  which, 
his  evangelical  labours  and  holy  example ,  left  a 
lasting  imprr.stiou. 


THE    REV.    JOHN    BLAIll.  301 

Mr.  John  Blair  also  had  a  son,  edacatcd  at  Prince- 
ton, New  Jersey,  who  became  a  minister  of  the 
gospel.  He  graduated  in  the  year  1775,  soon  after 
whicli,  he  went  to  the  county  of  Hanover,  in  Vir- 
ginia, and  became  the  principal  of  an  academy,  which 
had  been  established  by  the  Rev.  Daniel  Mc  Calla. 
While  in  this  office,  he  applied  himself  to  the  study 
of  theology ,without  any  instructor,andhaving  passed 
the  usual  trials,  to  the  approbation  of  the  presbytery 
of  Hanover,  he  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel. 
The  academy  not  prospering  according  to  his 
wishes,  Mr.  Blair  removed  from  Hanover  to  the 
city  of  Richmond,  where  he  taught  a  classical 
school,  at  his  own  house,  and  preached  alternately 
at  Hanover  meeting  house,  and  in  the  Capitol,  in 
Richmond.  At  this  time,  there  was  no  Presbyterian 
church  in  Richmond  ;  but  before  Mr.  Blair's  death, 
and  after  Dr.  Rice  had  collected  a  congregation  and 
erected  a  church  in  the  lower  part  of  the  city,  Mr. 
Blair's  hearers  made  an  exertion,  and  built  a  hand- 
some church  on  Shockoe  Hill.  He  was  a  sensible, 
pleasant  man,  and  much  respected  by  all  the  lead- 
ing characters  in  the  city  of  Richmond  ;  but  he  pos- 
sessed a  moderate  degree  of  religious  zeal,  and  no 
considerable  fruits  attended  his  ministry,  as  far  as 
has  come  to  our  knowledge. 

Another  son  of  the  Rev.  John  Blair,  also  educated 
at  Princeton,  went  to  Kentucky,  where  it  is  under- 
stood that  he  was  a  rcspectalile  lawyer, 
S3 


CHAPTER  X\  1. 

THE  REV.  SAMUEL  FINLEV,  I).  D. 

Birth  in  Ireland — Immigration  to  America — Education  at  the  liOg 
College — Becomes  a  popular  Preacher — A  successful  Itinerant — 
Settles  at  Nottingham,  Md. — Institutes  a  Classical  School — Emi- 
nent as  a  Teacher — Distinguished  Scholars — Elected  President  of 
New  Jersey  College — Continues  in  this  station  five  years — 
Seized  with  a  Liver  Comjilaint — Goes  to  Philadelphia  to  consult 
Physicians — Dies  therein  the  triumphs  of  Faith — Burial — Writ- 
ings. 

Dr.  Finley  was  born  in  the  comity  of  Armagh, 
in  the  province  of  Ulster,  Ireland,  in  the  year  1715, 
and  was  one  of  seven  sons,  who  were  all  esteemed 
pious.  One  of  his  brothers,  the  Rev.  James  Finley, 
was  an  esteemed  minister  in  the  Presbyterian  church ; 
and  although  his  talents  were  very  inferior  to  those 
of  his  brother  Samuel,  yet  he  was  reckoned  to  be 
eminently  pious ;  and  continued  laboriously  to  preach 
the  gospel,  until  an  advanced  period  of  life.  His 
latter  years  he  spent  in  the  western  part  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, where  he  died  some  years  before  the  close  of 
the  last  century.  The  writer  remembers  to  have 
seen  him  at  a  meeting  of  the  Virginia  synod,  in  Lex- 
ington, in  the  year  1789.  He  was  one  of  the 
pioneers  who,  amidst  many  hardships  and  privations. 


■;  THE    REV.    SAMUEL    FINLEY.  303 

carried  the  gospel  to  the  settlers  in  the  country  round 
about  Pittsburgh;  and  was  the  companion  and 
coadjutor  of  such  men  as  Mc  Millan,  Joseph  Smith, 
Power,  Patterson,  Dod,  Dunlap,  &.c. 

The  parents  of  Dr.  Finley  were  of  Scotch  descent, 
and  were  distinguished  for  their  piety.  Finding 
their  son  to  be  of  a  quick  capacity,  and  fond  of 
learning,  they  resolved  to  give  him  the  best  educa- 
tion which  their  circumstances  would  admit ;  and 
after  he  had  obtained  the  rudiments  of  an  English 
education,  he  was  sent  abroad  some  distance  from 
home,  to  prosecute  his  studies.  In  this  school,  he 
distinguished  himself  by  his  assiduity  and  his  profi- 
ciency in  learning. 

AVhen  he  was  in  his  nineteenth  year,  he  emigrated 
from  his  native  country,  and  came  to  America.  He 
arrived  in  Philadelphia  on  the  2Sth  of  September,  in 
the  year  1734.  He  appears  to  have  become  a  sub- 
ject of  divine  grace,  at  a  very  early  age.  He  has 
been  heard  to  say,  that  Avhcn  only  six  years  old,  he 
heard  a  sermon  which  made  a  deep  impression  on 
his  mind,  and  the  text  of  which  he  never  forgot. 
From  that  day,  he  was  seized  with  an  ardent  desire 
to  become  a  minister  of  the  gospel.  And  as  he 
grew  up,  this  desire  continued  to  ripen  and  increase  ; 
so  that  his  purpose  was  early  formed  to  devote  his 
life  to  the  service  of  God.  Upon  his  coming  to 
America,  he  steadily  pursued  his  studies  with  a  view 
to  the  holy  ministry.     And  as  he  arrived  in  Phila- 


30 \  Tiir:  ni:v.  sami'f.l  finkev. 

delphia,  at  the  very  time  when  Mr.  Tenncnt's 
school  was  floiirishnig  at  NeshainiDy,  and  as  there 
Avas  then  no  other  institution  in  the  Presbyterian 
church  wlicre  young  men  were  trained  for  the 
ministry,  there  is  the  strongest  probabihty  that  he 
was  a  student  at  the  Log  College.  This  probability 
is  strengthened  by  the  fact,  that  he  put  himself  under 
the  care  of  the  New  Brunswick  Presbyter}',  most  of 
the  members  of  which  were  educated  in  this  school. 
His  license  took  place  on  the  5th  of  August,  in  the 
year  1740.  Having  received  authority  to  preach, 
he  itinerated  extensively ;  and  as  his  pulpit  talents 
were  of  a  high  order  of  excellence,  he  was  greatly 
instrumental  in  carrying  on  the  work  of  the  Lord, 
which  at  that  time  prevailed  in  almost  every  part  of 
the  land. 

His  labours  in  the  gospel  were  greatly  blessed  in 
West  Jersey  ; — in  Deerfield,  Greenwich,  and  Cape 
May.  He  preached  also  for  six  months,  with  great 
acceptance,  in  the  congregation  to  which  Gilbert 
Tennent  was  afterwards  called,  in  Philadelphia. 
His  ordination  took  place  on  the  13th  of  October,  in 
the  year  1742.  He  was  probably  ordained  as  an 
evangelist,  arid  continued  to  visit  the  places  destitute 
of  the  stated  means  of  grace,  for  several  years ;  and 
all  accounts  agree  in  ascribing  much  success  to  his 
itinerant  labours.  It  was,  probably,  during  this  pe- 
riod, that  he  made  a  preaching  incursion  into  Con- 
necticut.    But  so  rigid  were  the  laws  of  this  land  of 


THE     IlEV.    SAMITL     FINI.EV.  305 

Steady  habits,  that  Mr.  Finley,  for  preaching  in  a 
congregation  in  New  Haven,  was  seized  as  a  va- 
grant, by  the  civil  authority,  and  carried  beyond  the 
hmits  of  the  colony.  He  does  not  appear  to  have 
been  permanently  settled  as  a  pastor,  until  June, 
1744,  when  he  accepted  a  call  from  Nottingham, 
Maryland.  In  this  place,  he  remained  for  seventeen 
years.* 

In  this  place,  he  instituted  an  academy,  with  the 
view,  chiefly,  of  preparing  young  men  for  the  gos- 
pel ministry.  This  school  was  conducted  with  ad- 
mirable wisdom  and  success,  and  acquired  a  higher 
reputation  than  any  other  in  the  middle  colonies ;  so 
that  students  from  a  distance  were  attracted  to  it. 
Some  of  the  most  distinguished  men  in  our  country, 
laid  the  foundation  of  their  eminence  and  usefulness, 
in  this  academy.  At  one  time,  there  was  a  cluster 
of  such  young  men,  who  all  were  afterwards  dis- 
tinguished, and  some  of  them,  among  the  very  first 
men  in  the  country,  as  the  following  names  well 
show.  Governor  Martin,  of  North  Carolina;  Dr. 
Benjamin  Rush,  of  Philadelphia,  and  his  brother, 
Jacob  Rush,  an  eminent  and  pious  judge  ;  Ebenezer 
Hazard,  Esq.  of  Philadelphia;  Rev.  James  Waddel, 
D.  D.,  of  Virginia  ;  Rev.  Dr.  Mc  Whorter,  of  New- 
ark, N.  J. :  -Col.  John  Bayard,  speaker  of  the  House 

*  In  Allen's  American  Biography,  his  continuance  here  is 
made  to  be  only  seven  years ;  but  he  went  there  in  1744, 
and  removed  in  1761. 


< 


306  Tin:   ukv.  svmi'kl   riNi.r.v. 

of  Representatives ;  Governor  Henry,  of  Maryland, 
and  the  Rev.  William  M.  Tcnncnt,  of  Abinc^ton,  Pa. 
It  would  not  be  easy,  in  any  country,  to  find  such  a 
constellation  in  one  school,  at  the  same  time.  That 
Dr.  Finley  was  an  accomplished  scholar,  and  a  skil- 
ful teacher,  was  universally  admitted.  Perhaps  this 
country  has  not  had  better  classical  scholars  formed 
any  where,  than  in  this  school.  The  method  of  in- 
struction in  the  Latin  and  Greek  languages,  was 
thorough  and  accurate.  The  scholars  were  carefully 
drilled  in  the  application  of  the  rules  of  syntax,  and 
in  the  prosody  of  these  languages.  Dr.  Finley 
boarded  most  of  his  pupils  in  his  own  house",  and 
when  they  were  met  at  meals,  he  was  in  the  habit 
of  relaxing  from  the  severity  of  the  pedagogue,  and 
indulging  in  facetious  remarks ;  saying,  that  nothing 
more  helped  digestion  than  a  hearty  laugh.  His 
own  temper  was  remarkably  benignant  and  sweet, 
and  his  manners  affable  and  polite. 

Dr.  Finley  had  been  seriously  thought  of  before 
Mr.  Davies  was  called  to  the  presidency  of  Nassau 
Hall,  and  when  Mr.  Davies  at  first  declined  the  in- 
vitation, he  strongly  recommended  Dr.  Finley.  And 
it  cannot  be  denied,  that  both  in  scholarship,  and 
skill  in  teaching,  the  latter  was  far  superior.  Dr.  Fin- 
ley too,  was  a  much  older  man,  and  had  been  sev- 
eral years  longer  in  the  ministry.  But  Davies  was 
a  man  of  much  more  genius,  and  eloquence,  and  his 
acquaintance  with  English  literature  was  far  more 


THE    REV.    SAMUEL    FTXLEV.  307 

perfect.  The  premature  decease  of  so  many  presi- 
dents of  New  Jersey  College  brought  forward  a  suc- 
C3ssion  of  illustrious  men,  who  have  ever  since  re- 
flected honour  on  that  literary  institution.  Dickin- 
son, Burr,  Edwards,  Davies,  and  Finley,  all  filled 
the  presidential  chair,  within  five  or  six  3'ears.  Dr. 
Finley  was  elected  president,  in  the  year  1761,  and 
immediately  entered  on  the  duties  of  the  office  ;  and 
the  trustees  were  not  disappointed  in  their  expecta- 
tions of  his  wisdom  and  efficiency.  As  he  was 
permitted  to  remain  five  years  in  office,  he  had  the 
opportunity  of  carrying  into  effect,  plans  for  the  im- 
provement of  the  institution,  so  that  its  reputation 
was  greatly  extended.  Dr.  Finley  held  correspond- 
ence with  some  of  the  learned  men  of  Europe, 
among  whom  was  Dr.  Samuel  Chandler,  of  Lon- 
don ;  who,  as  appears  by  his  letters,  entertained  a 
high  esteem,  and  indeed,  affectionate  friendship,  for 
his  distant  correspondent.  It  was  through  the  in- 
fluence of  this  learned  dissenter,  that,  without  the 
knowledge  of  Mr.  Finley,  the  degree  of  doctor  of 
divinity  was  bestowed  upon  him  by  the  University 
of  Glasgow  ;  which  seems  to  have  been  the  first  in- 
stance of  any  Presbyterian  minister,  in  America, 
receiving  that  honorary  distinction.  But  if  genius 
and  theological  learning  could  have  commanded  it, 
Dickinson,  Burr,  Edwards  and  Davies,  would  all 
have  been  distinguished,  in  the  same  way.  But 
they  need  no  such  appendage  to  their  names ;  their 


308  TIIK    REV.    SAMUEL    FINI.EY. 

works  have  secured  to  them,  a  much  liighcr  honour, 
in  the  estimation  of  posterity.  And  it  must  be  a 
mortification  to  many  modest  men,  who  bear  the 
title  of  DOCTOR,  that  divines  to  whom  they  are  con- 
scious that  they  are  not  lit  to  be  compared,  lived  and 
died,  without  having  their  names  distinguished  by 
any  such  title.  The  disease  by  which  Dr.  Finley's 
constitution  was  attacked,  an  obstruction,  of  the 
liver,  was  supposed  to  have  been  contracted  by  too 
great  assiduity  in  his  studies,  and  too  constant  occu- 
pation in  the  public  duties  of  his  office.  He  did  not 
die  at  home,  but  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  whither 
he  had  gone  to  consult  physicians,  respecting  his 
disease.  When  informed  by  the  physician  who  at- 
tended him,  that  nothing  could  be  done  to  remove 
his  malady,  and  that  it  must  soon  prove  mortal,  he 
expressed  an  entire  resignation  to  the  divine  will, 
and  from  that  time,  was  engaged  in  <  setting  his 
house  in  order.'  He  said,  "  If  my  work  is  done,  I 
am  ready ;  I  do  not  desire  to  live  a  day  longer,  than 
I  can  work  for  God."  At  that  time,  however,  he 
did  not  apprehend  that  his  end  was  so  near  as  it 
proved  to  be.  His  disease  made  rapid  progress ; 
and  he  was  informed  by  one  of  his  physicians,  that 
he  had  but  few  days  to  live;  on  which,  lifting  up 
his  eyes  to  heaven,  he  exclaimed,  "  Then,  welcome, 
Lord  Jesus." 

On  the  Sabbath  preceding  his  death,  he  was  in- 
formed by  Dr.  Clarkson,  his  brother-in-law,  that  he 


riir.   REV.  sAMriM,   kim.kv.  ,309 

perceived  a  manifest  alteration  ni  iiis  appt?amnce, 
and  that  evidently  liis  end  was  near.  "  Then," 
said  he,  "  ma}'"  the  Lord  bring  me  near  Iiinisclf !  I 
have  been  wailing  with  a  Canaan  hunger  for  the 
promised  land.  I  have  often  wondered  that  God 
suffered  me  to  live.  I  have  more  wondered,  that 
he  ever  called  me  to  be  a  minister  of  his  word.  He 
lias  often  aflbrded  me  much  strength,  which,  though 
I  have  often  abused,  He  returned  in  mercy.  Oh  1 
faithful  are  the  promises  of  God !  0  that  I  could 
see  Him  as  I  have  seen  Him  in  the  sanctuary  I  Al- 
though I  have  earnestly  desired  dcatli,  as  the  hire- 
ling pants  for  the  evening  shade  ;  yet  will  I  wait  all 
the  days  of  my  appointed  time.  I  have  often  strug- 
gled with  principalities  and  powers,  and  have  been 
brought  almost  to  despair — Lord,  let  it  suffice  !" 
Here  he  sat  up  ;  and  closing  liis  eyes,  he  prayed,  fer- 
vently'-, that  God  would  show  him  his  glory,  before 
he  sliould  depart  heiice — that  He  would  enable  him 
to  endure  patiently  to  the  end, — and  particularly, 
(hat  he  might  be  kept  from  dishonouring  the  minis- 
try. He  then  resumed  his  discourse,  and  spoke  as 
follows,  "I  can  truly  say,  I  have  loved  the  service 
of  God.  I  know  not  in  what  language  to  speak  of 
my  own  imworthiness — I  have  been  undutiful — I 
have  honestly  endeavoured  to  act  for  God,  but  with 
much  weakness  and  corruption.*'  He  then  lay 
down,  but  conthuied  to  speak  in  broken  sentences. 
'•'  A  Christian's  death,"  said  he,  "  is  the  best  part  of 


;no  Tiir;  uev.  samukl  iinlkv. 

his  experieiicc.  The  J^ord  has  made  provision  lor 
the  whole  way  :  piovi:iiou  for  tlie  soul  and  for  the 
body.  0  that  I  could  recollect  Sabbath  blessings  I 
The  Lord  hath  given  me  many  souls,  as  crowns  of 
my  rejoicing,  lilesscd  be  God,  eternal  rest  is  at 
hand.  Eternity  is  but  long  enough,  to  enjoy  my 
God.  This,  has  animated  me  in  my  secret  studies, 
I  was  ashamed  to  take  rest  here.  0  that  1  could  be 
filled  witli  the  fulness  of  God  !  lliat  fulness  which 
fills  heaven."  Being  asked  whether  he  would 
choose  to  hve  or  die,  he  replied,  "  to  die — though  I 
cannot  but  say,  I  feel  the  same  strait  that  Paul  did, 
that  he  knew  not  which  to  choose,  '■for  me  to  live 
is  Christ,  but  to  die  is  gain.'  But  should  God,  by 
a  miracle,  prolong  my  life,  I  would  still  continue  to 
serve  Him.  His  service  has  ever  been  sweet  to  me. 
I  have  loved  it  mucli.  I  have  tried  my  Master's 
yoke,  and  will  never  shrink  my  neck  from  it.  "  His 
yoke  is  easy  and  his  burden  light."  One  said  to 
him,  "You  are  more  cheerful  and  vigorous.  Sir." 
'  Yes.  I  rise  or  fall  as  eternal  life  seems  nearer,  or 
farther  ofi"."  It  being  remarked,  that  he  always 
used  the  expression,  "dear  Lord,"  in  his  prayers, 
he  answered,  "  0,  He  is  very  dear — very  precious, 
indeed." — «<  How  pretty  is  it  for  a  minister  to  die 
on  the  Sabbath — I  expect  to  spend  the  remainder 
of  this  Sabbath  in  heaven."  One  of  the  company 
said,  you  will  soon  be  joined  to  the  blessed  society 
of  heaven  :  you  will  Ibrever  hold  intercourse  with 


THE    IlEV.    SAMUEL    FINLEV.  311 

Abraham,  Isaac,  and  Jacob,  and  with  the  spirits  of 
the  just  made  perfect — with  old  friends  and  many 
old-fashioned  people.''  "  Yes,  Sir,"  he  replied  with 
a  smile,  "  but  they  are  a  most  polite  people  now." 
He  expressed  great  gratitude  to  friends  around  him, 
and  said,  "  May  the  Lord  repay  you — may  He  bless 
you  abundantly,  not  only  with  temporal,  but  with 
spiritual  blessings  !"  Turning  to  his  wife,  he  said, 
"  I  expect,  my  dear,  to  see  you  shortly  in  glory." 
n  this,  however,  he  was  disappointed,  for  Mrs.  Fin- 
ley  continued  to  live,  many  years  after  her  hus- 
band's decease.  She  was,  a  long  time,  completely 
blind  ;  but  under  this  privation,  manifested  a  pious 
and  contented  disposition ;  being  entirely  resigned 
to  the  will  of  her  heavenly  Father.  It  was  an  edi- 
fying and  refreshing  thing  for  any  person  to  pay  a 
visit  to  her  and  her  companion,  Mrs.  Hodge,  with 
whom  she  lived.  Their  conversation  was  indeed  in 
heaven.  But  to  return.  Dr.  Finley,  seeing  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Second  Presbyterian  church  present,  said, 
"  I  have  often  preached  and  prayed  among  you,  my 
dear  Sir,  and  the  doctrines  I  preached  to  you,  are 
now  my  support,  and  blessed  be  God,  they  arc  with- 
out a  flaw.  May  the  Lord  bless  and  prosper  your 
church.     He  designs  good  for  it  yet,  I  trust." 

To  a  person  from  Princeton,  he  said,  "  Give  my 
love  to  the  people  of  Princeton,  and  tell  them  that 
I  am  going  to  die,  and  that  I  am  not  afraid  te  die." 
He  would  sometimes  cry  out,  "  The  Lord  Jesus  will 


312  IHK     RKV.    SAMUKL    FINLKV. 

take  care  of  hts  cause  in  this  world  !"  Upon  awak- 
ing the  next  morning,  he  exclaimed,  "  Oh  what  a 
disappointment  I  have  met  with — I  expected,  this 
morning  to  have  been  in  heaven  !"  On  account  of 
extreme  weakness,  he  was  unable  to  speak  much 
during  this  day,  but  what  he  did  say  was  the  lan- 
guage of  triumph.  The  next  morning,  with  a  pleas- 
ing smile  on  his  countenance,  he  cried  out,  "  0,  I 
shall  triumph  over  every  foe.  The  Lord  hath  given 
me  the  victory.  I  exult — I  triumph.  O  that  I 
could  see  untainted  purity !  Now  I  know  that  it 
is  impossible  that  faith  should  not  triumph  over 
earth  and  hell,"  «  I  think  I  have  nothing  to  do  but 
to  die.  Yet,  perhaps  I  have — Lord  show  me  my 
task."  He  then  said,  "  Lord  Jesus,  into  thy  hands 
I  commend  my  spirit — I  do  it  with  confidence — I 
do  it  with  full  assurance.  I  know  that  thou  wilt 
keep  that  which  I  have  committed  to  thee.  I  have 
been  dreaming  too  fast  of  the  time  of  my  departure, 
for  I  find  it  does  not  come  ;  but  the  Lord  is  faithful, 
and  will  not  tarry  beyond  the  appointed  time." 

In  the  afternoon  of  this  day,  tl\e  Rev.  Elihu  Spen- 
cer called  to  see  him,  and  said,  "  I  have  come,  dear 
Sir,  to  see  you  confirm  by  facts  the  gospel  you  have 
been  preaching,  pray  Sir,  how  do  you  feel  ?"  To 
which  he  replied,  "full  of  triumph — I  triumph 
through  Christ.  Nothing  clips  my  wings,  but  the 
thoughts  of  my  dissolution  being  prolonged.  ^  0, 
that  it  were  to  night  !     My  very  soul  thirsts  for  eter- 


"  THE     REV.    SAMUEL    FINLEY.  313 

nal  rest."  Mr.  Spencer  asked  him,  "  what  he  saw 
in  eternity  to  excite  such  vehement  desires?"  "I 
see,"  said  he,  '•'  the  eternal  love  and  goodness  of 
God.  I  see  the  fulness  of  the  Mediator.  I  see  the 
love  of  Jesus.  .  .  0  to  be  dissolved,  and  to  be  with 
Him  !  I  long  to  be  clothed  with  the  complete  right- 
eousne^  of  Christ."  He  then  desired  Mr.  Spencer 
to  pray  with  him,  before  they  parted,  and  said, '"  I 
have  gained  the  victory  over  the  devil.  Pray  to 
God  to  preserve  me  from  evil — to  keep  me  from 
dishonouring  his  great  name  in  this  critical  hour ; 
and  to  support  me  with  his  presence  in  my  passage 
through  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death." 

The  remainder  of  the  evening  he  spent  in  taking 
leave  of  his  friends,  and  blessing  and  exhorting  such 
of  his  children  as  were  present.  He  would  fre- 
quently cry  out,  "  Why  move  the  tardy  hours  so 
slow  ?"  The  next  day  terminated  the  conflict.  He 
was  no  longer  able  to  speak,  but  a  friend  having 
desired  him  to  give  a  token  by  which  it  might  be 
known,  whether  he  still  continued  to  triumph,  he 
lifted  up  his  hand,  and  uttered  the  word  "  Yes." 
About  nine  o'clock,  he  fell  into  a  profound  sleep, 
and  appeared  to  be  much  more  free  from  pain  than 
he  had  been  for  many  days  before.  He  continued 
to  sleep  without  changing  his  position,  till  about 
one  o'clock,  when  he  expired,  without  a  sigh  or  a 
groan.  During  his  whole  sickness  he  was  never 
iieard  to  utter  a  repining  word,  and  in  taking  leave 


;}14  rUK    UEV.    SA.MLKL    riM.I.V. 

of  his  dearest  friends,  he  was  never  seen  to  shea  :i 
tear,  or  to  exhibit  any  sign  of  sorrow. 

His  death  occurred  on  the  16th  of  July,  1766,  in 
the  fifty-first  year  of  his  age. 

It  Avas  the  purpose  of  Dr.  Finley's  friends  to  hnve 
his  remains  removed  to  Princeton,  and  buried  with 
his  iUustrious  predecessors,  who  he  iiUerrec^n  the 
cemetery  of  that  place  ;  but  the  heat  of  the  weather 
rendered  it  inconvenient  to  carry  the  body  so  far, 
and  therefore  he  was  buried  by  the  side  of  his  dear 
friend,  Gilbert  Tennent,  within  the  Second  Presby- 
terian church.  When  this  church  was  enlarged, 
the  remains  of  both  these  venerable  men  were 
removed  to  the  common  burying  ground  of  the 
congregation.  Agreeably  to  his  dying  request,  his 
body  was  carried  to  the  grave,  by  eight  members 
of  the  senior  class  of  the  College  of  New  Jersey. 
The  Trustees  of  the  College,  to  show  their  respect 
for  the  deceased,  caused  a  cenotaph  to  be  erected 
in  the  cemetery  of  Princeton,  in  a  line  with  the 
tombs  of  the  other  presidents,  whose  remains  are 
there  entombed. 

Dr.  Finley  was  a  person  of  low  stature,  and  of  a 
round  and  ruddy  countenance.  In  the  pulpit  he 
was  solemn,  sensible,  and  sententious ;  and  some- 
times glowed  with  fervid  animation.  He  was  re- 
markable for  sweetness  of  temper,  politeness,  and 
generosity.  He  was  also  distinguished  for  diligence 
and  punctuality  in  the  performance  of  all  his  duties. 


THiC     REV.    SAMCKL     FUNXEY.  315 

His  sermons  were  rather  soliij,  tlran  bjilliaiit ;  not 
hasty  productions,  but  ompjsod  with  care;  and 
while  they  ware  in  a  style  pleasing  to  the  cultivated 
mind,  they  were,  at  the  sams  lime,  intelligible  by  the 
illiterate. 

Dr.  Finlcy  was  twi(.\5  married ;  first,  to  Sarah 
Mali,  by  whom  he  had  eight  children.  She  died  in 
the  year  1760,  before  he  left  Nottingham.  His 
second  wife  was  Ann  Clarkson,  daughter  of  Mr. 
Clarkson,  merchant  of  New  York,  who  was  a  lineal 
descendant  of  llic  Rev.  David  Clarkson,  B.D.,  one 
of  the  two  thousand  ministers,  ejected  for  non-con- 
formity in  England,  in  the  year  16G2.  His  second 
wife  survived  him  forty-one  years.  His  son  Ebene- 
zer  Finley,  was  a  pliysician  in  Charleston,  S.  C, 
where  his  descendents  still  dwell  and  are  respecta- 
ble, and  generally  pious.  One  of  his  daughters  was 
married  to  S.imu  ;1  Breeze,  Esq.,  of  Shrewsbury, 
New  Jersey,  who  was  the  mother  of  the  wife  of  the 
Rev.  Jcdediah  Tuorse,  D.D. ;  consequently,  the  inge- 
nious and  respectable  sons  of  Dr.  Morse,  now  resi- 
dent in  the  city  of  New  York,  are  the  great  grand- 
:sons  of  Dr.  Finlcy. 

Dr.  Finlcy  wrote  no  work  of  any  considerable 
size  ;  but  published  several  sermons  and  essays, 
which  however  are  nearly  out  of  print.  In  1711, 
he  published  a  sermon  on  Matt.  xii.  2S,  entitled, 
'•  Christ  Triumphing  and  Satan  Raging."  In 
1743,  "A  Refttation  of   Mn.  THOMrs-oN's  Ser- 


316  THE    RKV.    5AMUEr.    FIM.i:V. 

MON  ON  Conviction."  And  in  the  same  year,  a 
treatise  against  the  Moravians,  entitled  <•  Satan 
Stripped  of  his  Evansei^ical  Robe." 

In  1747,  a  Treatise  against  the  Antipedobaptisiri 
of  Abel  Morgan,  entitled,  "A  Pi.ea  for  the 
Speechless." 

And  in  1749,  he  published  a  sermon,  preached  at 
the  ordination  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Rodgers,  at  St. 
George's,  March,  174  9. 

Also,  a  sermon  on  the  death  of  the  Rev.  Samuel 
Davies,  his  predecessor  in  the  college,  which  is  pre- 
fixed to  most  editions  of  Davies's  Sermons. 

To  which  may  be  added,  <•  A  Sermon,  occasioned 
by  the  death  of  the  Rev.  Gilbert  Tennent,"  preached 
in  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church,  Philadelphia. 

It  would  be  desirable,  if  we  had  the  materials,  to 
give  a  history  of  the  flourishing  and  important  aca- 
demical institutions  which  arose  out  of  the  Log 
College,  and  which  were  conducted  on  the  same 
principles,  and  with  the  same  views,  by  men  who 
had  received  their  education  in  that  school.  And 
it  would  be  gratifying  to  our  readers,  we  doubt  not,  if 
we  were  to  annex  some  biographical  account  of  the 
eminent  men  who  proceeded  from  these  academies, 
prior  to  the  erection  of  the  College  of  New  Jersey. 
Such,  for  example,  as  the  Rev.  Samuel  Davies,  the 
Rev.  John  Rodgers,  D.D.,  the  Rev.  Dr.  McWhorter, 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Gumming,  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Waddel ; 
but  this  would  carry  us  much  beyond  our  prescribed 


THT.    REV.    SAMUEi.    FISLEY.  317 

limits;  and  in  regard  to  several  of  the  most  distin- 
guished of  the  persons  mentioned,  would  lead  us 
over  ground  which  has  already  been  occupied  by- 
abler  hands. 


T2 


CHAPTEJl  XVII. 

THE  REV.  WM.  ROBINSON. 

An  Englisliman — Occasion  of  liis  Emigration — Teaches  in  New 
Jersey  and  in  Delaware — Is  converted — Joins  the  Presbyterians — 
Studies  at  the  Log  College — Seeks  out  the  Destitute — Taken  up 
in  Virginia — Permitted  to  proceed — Visits  Cub  Creek — Conver- 
sioii  of  David  Austin — Sent  for  to  Hanover — Extraordinary  Re- 
ligious awakening — Success  of  his  labours — Mr.  Davies's  Letter 
to  Mr.  Bellamy — Preaches  in  New  Yoik  with  his  wonted  success 
— Also  in  Maryland — Died  early — None  of  the  circumstances  of 
his  end  have  come  down — Left  no  writings. 

Concerning  the  early  history  of  this  successful 
evangelist,  very  little  is  known.  The  only  account 
which  the  writer  has  met  with,  is  that  found  in  a 
note,  in  the  "  Life  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Rodgers,"  by  the 
Rev.  Dr.  INIiller.  It  is  here  stated,  "  that  Mr.  Robin- 
son was  the  son  of  a  wealthy  Quaker  in  England. 
Being  permitted  to  pay  a  visit  of  a  few  weeks,  to  an 
aunt  in  the  city  of  London,  from  whom  he  had  con- 
siderable cxpectatio!is,  he  greatly  overstaid  the  time 
which  had  been  allowed  him :  and  becoming  deeply 
involved  in  the  dissipations  of  the  town,  he  incurred 
large  debts,  which  lie  knew  his  father  would  never 
pay,  and  which  his  aunt  refused  to  discharge.  In 
this  situation,  fearing  to  return  home,  and  unable  to 


THE    REV.    Wyi.    R0I5IXS0X.  319 

remain  longer  in  London,  he  determined  to  quit  his 

native  country,  and  seek  his  fortune  in  America.     In 

this  determination,  his  aunt  reluctantly-  acquiesced, 

and  furnished  him  witii  a  small  sum  of  money  for 

the  purpose.     Soon  after  his  arrival  in  America,  he 

had  recourse  for  subsistence  to  teaching  a  school  in 

New  Jersey,  in  the  bounds  of  the  presbytery  of 

New   Brunswick.     He   had   been   for  some    time 

engaged  in  this  bushicss,  without  any  practical  sense 

of  rehgion,  when  it  pleased  God  to  bring  him  to  a 

knowledge  of  himself,  and  the  way  of  salvation,  in 

a  remarkable   manner.     He  was   riding   at  a  late 

hour  one  evening,  when  the  moon  and  stars  slione 

with   imusual  brightness,  and  when   every   thing 

around   him   was    calculated   to    excite   reflection. 

While  he  was  meditating  on  tlie  beauty  and  grandeur 

of  the  scene  which  the  firmament  presented,  and  was 

saying  to  himself,  how  transcendently  glorious  must 

be  the  Author  of  all  this  beauty  and  grandeur,  the 

thought  struck  him  with  the  suddenness  and  force 

of  lightning,  'But  what  do  I  know  of  this  God? 

Have  I  ever  sought  his  favour,  or  made  him  my 

friend?'     This  happy  impression,  which  proved  by 

its  permanency  and  its  effects,  to  have  come  from  the 

best  of  all  sources,  never  left  him   until   he  took 

refuge  in  Christ  as  the  hope  and  life  of  his  soul." 

It  appears  from  some  circumstances  of  the  life  of 

the  Rev.  Samuel  Davics,  that  Mr.  Robinson  also 

taught  a  classical  school  in  the  state  of  Delaware  ; 
T3 


320  riir   rkv,  \vm.   HoniNsoN, 

lor  it  is  mentioned  that  Mr,  Davies,  whou  a  boy 
was  one  of  his  pupils ;  and  iiis  parents,  we  know, 
resided  in  the  state  of  Delaware. 

After  ]\Ir.  Robinson's  conversion,  lie  determined 
to  devote  his  Hfe  to  the  service  of  God,  in  the  work 
of  the  holy  ministry ;  and  having  fallen  in  with  the 
Presbyterians,  he  connected  himself  with  that  church; 
and  the  uncontradicted  tradition  is,  that  he  pursued 
a  course  of  preparation  for  the  ministry,  in  the  Log 
College  ;  and  after  the  usual  trials,  was  licensed  to 
preach  the  gospel,  by  the  presbytery  of  New  Bruns- 
wick ;  and  after  some  probation,  was  ordained  by 
them  as  an  evangelist. 

Mr.  Robinson, soon  after  his  ordination, determined 
to  go  and  visit  the  "  lost  sheep  of  the  house  of  Israel ;" 
that  is,  the  distant  and  dispersed  settlements  of  Pres- 
byterians, in  the  states  south  of  New  Jersey.  The 
Presbyterians  from  the  north  of  Ireland,  between  the 
years  1720  and  1730,  had  come  over  to  America,  in 
large  numbers.  They  generally  landed  at  New  Cas- 
tle, or  Philadelphia,  and  then  proceeded  to  the  interior 
of  the  country.  In  the  frontier  of  Pennsylvania, 
they  were  greatly  infested  by  the  liostile  incursions 
of  the  Indians,  which  induced  them  to  turn  their 
attention  to  the  western  parts  of  Virginia,  and  North 
Carolina.  In  some  instances,  whole  congregations, 
driven  from  their  homes  by  the  savages,  removed  in 
a  body,  with  their  ministers,  to  a  region  less  exposed 
to  'the    incursion!^   of    their   murclorons   foe.      The 


TIIK    REV.     WxM.    ROUINSON.  321 

valley  between  the  Blue  Ridge  and  the  North  moun- 
tain— a  fine  lime-stone  farming  county — was  first  oc- 
cupied by  these  Irish  Presbyterians ;  the  Germans, 
who  now  possess  a  large  part  of  this  fertile  region, 
came  in  afterwards.  In  many  places,  all  along  the 
frontier  were  small  groups  of  Presbyterians,  who 
were  entirejy  destitute  of  the  public  means  of  grace. 
To  these  scattered  sheep,  Mr.  Robinson  directed  his 
benevolent  attention  ;  feeling  something  of  the  zeal 
which  actuated  Paul,  he  did  not  wish  to  build  on 
another  man's  foundation,  but  to  preach  Christ 
where  he  had  not  been  named.  In  another  respect, 
he  resembled  Paul,  for  he  went  forward,  fearless  of 
danger,  and  as  it  would  seem,  without  even  inquir- 
ing whether  the  laws  of  the  colonies  into  which  he 
was  going,  would  allow  itinerant  preachers  to  assp 
through  the  land.  Accordingly,  he  had  penetrated 
but  a  short  day's  journey  into  the  Old  Dominion,  and 
reached  the  town  of  Winchester,  when  he  Avas 
apprehended  by  the  civil  authorities;  and  it  appear- 
ing that  he  had  transgressed  the  laws  of  the  colony, 
a  mittimus  was  made  out  by  the  magistrate,  to  send 
him  to  Williamsburg,  the  then  seat  of  government ; 
for  they  were  at  a  loss  what  disposal  to  make  of 
him.  The  sheriff  to  whom  he  was  committed,  hav- 
ing set  off  on  the  journey,  began  to  think  that  it 
would  be  a  useless  thing  to  conduct  his  prisoner  to 
a  place  so  distant,  and  finding  that  ho  was  a  sensible, 
well  disposed  man.  In-  nssumcd  the  responsiblHfy  of 


322  Tin:    lu.v.    w.m.    itoui.NMtN. 

letting  him  go  on  his  missionary  tour.     Mr.  Robin- 
son preceded  along  the  valley,  every  where  finding 
new  settlements  of  Presbyterians,  until  he  reached 
the  waters  of  James  River.     The  writer  .has  heard 
an  old  man  who  was  among  the  first  settlers  of  the 
country   round   about  Lexington,  then   called   the 
Forks,  say,  that  he  had  heard  Mr.  Robinson  preach 
in  that  settlement,  soon  after  it  was  formed.     But, 
the  inhabitants  in  the  valley,  not  extending    any 
farther  to  tlic  south-west,  he  returned,  and  crossing 
the  Blue  Ridge,  at  Rock  Fish  gap,  proceeded  to  the 
south,  across  the   country,  until   he   reached   Cub 
Creek,  then  in  Lunenburg,  now  Charlotte.     Here  he 
found  a  pretty  large  settlement  of  Presbyterians, 
where  he  stopped  and  preached ;  and  here  as  in  all 
other  places,  his  ministry  Avas  attended  by  the  Spirit 
of  God:  sinners  were  awakened  and  converted,  and 
the  people  of  God  were  greatly  strengthened  and 
comforted.     I  have   conversed  with   an  old   man, 
when  I  was  young,  who  was  living  in  this  settle- 
ment at  the  time,  and  was  afterv/ards  an  elder  in 
the  church  organized  there.     His  name  was  Robert 
Weakly,  born  in  Pennsylvania ;  and  though  brought 
up  among  the  opposers  of  the  revival,  he  was"  led 
by  curiosity  to  hear  the  Rev.  Samuel  Blair  preach, 
and  was  brought  under  deep  conviction  ;  and  after 
many  trials,  he  hoped,  to  a  sound  conversion.     From 
which  time,  he  connected  himself  with  the  "  New- 
Lights,"  as  they  were  called.     This  man.  late  in 


THE    REV.    \VM.    aORIXSOX.  323 

life,  having  removed  into  Halifax  county,  where  he 
had  no  opportunity  of  attending  on  the  Lord's  Supper 
in  his  own  church,  and  being  debarred  from  the 
communion  by  the  Baptists  among  whom  he  lived, 
unless  he  would  submit  to  be  immersed,  was  at 
length  induced  to  go  down  with  them  under  the 
water;  but  though  thus  nominally  a  Baptist,  his 
heart  was  as  truly  Presbyterian  as  ever.  He  was  a 
man  of  eminent  and  long  tried  piety,  and  had  a 
good  report  from  all  of  every  name,  whether  in 
the  churclt  or  out  of  it. 

This  man  informed  me,  that  under  Mr.  Robinson's 
first  sermon,  a  remarkable  conversion  of  a  half-breed 
Indian,  one  of  the  wickedest  of  men,  h|id  taken 
place,  under  unusual  circumstances.  When  notice 
was  given  to  his  family  of  a  sermon  at  the  Stand, 
by  a  travelling  preacher,  his  wife  wished  to  go,  but 
he  positively  forbade  her,  but  said  he  would  go 
himself.  His  name  was  David  Austin.  When  the 
congregation  had  collected,  he  was  seen  lying  out- 
side of  the  assembly,  under  a  tree,  asleep.  And 
thus  he  lay,  until  the  preacher  took  his  text,  which 
he  uttered  in  a  thundering  voice,  "  Awake,  thou 
that  sleepest,"  Austin  sprang  to  his  feet,  as  if  pierced 
with  a  dart,  and  fixing  his  eyes  on  the  preacher, 
never  removed  them,  but  drew  nigher  and  nigher  to 
the  Stand,  until  at  the  close,  he  was  observed 
standing  at  the  preacher's  feet,  and  the  tears  stream- 
ing from  his  eyes.     After  a  few  days  of  pungent 


S24  Tur,   Ri:v.   w.m.   koisinson. 

conviction,  he  received  comlbit  by  faith  m  Christ, 
and  became  one  of  tlie  most  eminent  Christians  in 
all  the  land.  His  talent  for  administering  consolalift') 
to  distressed  consciences  was  so  well  known,  tha4  i«s 
has  been  sent  for,  as  far  as  thirty  miles,  to  converse 
with  a  lady  under  spiritual  darkness  and  distress  of 
mind.  I  have  heard  a  pious  old  mother  in  Israel 
say,  that  she  had  heard  Mr.  Davies  and  Dr.  Waddel, 
and  the  Smiths,  converse  on  religion,  but  she  never 
heard  any  one  whom  she  found  so  much  comfort  in 
hearing,  as  old  David  Austin. 

A  remarkable  attention  to  religion  in  the  county 
of  Hanover,  existed  at  this  time,  without  the  aid  of 
the  ministry.  Some  persons  from  that  place  being 
on  a  visit  to  Cub  Creek,  when  Mr.  Robinson,  on  his 
way  to  Carolina,  visited  that  settlement,  then  called 
"  The  Caldwell  Settlement,"  gave  an  account, 
upon  their  return,  of  the  preacher  they  had  heard. 
Upon  hearing  this  account,  the  serious  people 
of  Hanover  inquired,  at  what  time  Mr.  Robinson  ex- 
pected to  return  from  Carolina  to  Cub  Creek ;  and 
they  immediately  resolved  to  send  two  of  their  num- 
ber to  meet  him  at  the  time  specified.  It  so  hap- 
pened, however,  that  the  information  received  was 
not  correct ;  for  when  the  messengers  arrived  at 
Cub  Creek,  they  found  to  their  disappointment,  that 
he  had  passed  several  days  before.  Determined, 
however,  not  to  go  back  without  him,  they  pursued 
after   him   through   a    very  rueffod,    mountainous 


THE     RKV.     \VM.    KOiJINSON.  325 

countiy,  and  overtook  him  at  Rock  fish,  at  the  foot 
of  the  Bhie  Ridge.  j\lr.  Robinson  upon  hearing 
*^e  state  of  things  in  Hanover,  did  not  hesitate  to 
^yj  vV'ith  the  men  ;  hut  in  order  to  reach  the  place 
before  the  Sabbath,  it  became  necessary  to  ride  one 
Avhole  night.  And  when  he  arrived,  the  leaders  of 
the  dissenting  congregation  were  mucWperplexed 
and  concerned,  lest  his  doctrines  shoul(^iot  accord 
with  those  which  from  books  they  had  imbibed  ; 
therefore,  belorc  he  was  introduced  to  the  congre- 
gation, they  took  him  into  a  private  room  and  asked 
him,  what  was  his  opinion  of  such  works  as  Luther 
on  the  Galatians,  Boston,  Bunyan,  &.C.,  and  when 
he  expressed  the  warmest  approbation,  they  were 
delighted  above  measure.  But  as  it  will  bo  gratify- 
ing to  the  reader  to  see  the  whole  of  the  letter  which 
Mr.  Davies  wrote  to  Mr.  Bellamy,  in  which  the  nar- 
rative of  Mr.  Robinson's  visit  to  Hanover  is  con- 
tained, it  sliall  be  here  inserted. 

Letter  from  Mr.  Davies,  minister  of  Hanover,  Vir- 
ginia, to  Mr.  Bellany  of  Bethlehem,  hi  New-Eng- 
land. 

"June  28,  1751. 
"  Rev.  and  Dear  Sir  : — 
**If'  the  publication  of  a  narrative  of  the  rise,  progress,  and 
present  situation  of  religion  in  Virginia,  may  not  only  grati- 
fy good  people,  but  (as  you  give  me  reason  to  hope)  animate 
their  prayers  for  us,  and  also  encourage  preachers  to  come 
into  these  parts,  I  should  charge  myself  wilh  a  criminal 
neglect  if  I  refused  to  publish  the  marvellous  works  of  the 
Lord  among  us.     I  hope  I  may  observe  without  the  umbrage 


33G  Till-:    ui:v.   w.m.   uoiunson. 

of  calumny,  what  is  but  loo  evident  to  serious  people  of  all 
denominations  arnonjj  us,  that  rLli<,'ion  has  been,  and  in  most 
parts  of  the  colony  still  is,  in  a  very  low  state.  A  surprising 
negligence  in  attending  public  worship,  and  an  ctjual  sur- 
prising levity  and  unconcerncdoess  in  those  that  attend. 
Family  religion  a  rarity,  and  a  solemn  concern  about  eter- 
nal things,  a  greater.  Vices  of  various  kinds  triumphant, 
and  even  a  form  of  godliness  not  common.  But  universal 
fame  make^  needless  for  me  to  enlarge  on  this  disagreea- 
ble subject^Bcfure  the  revival  in  1743,  there  were  a  few 
who  were  awakened,  as  they  have  told  me, either  by  theirown 
serious  reflections,  suggested  and  enforced  by  divine  energy, 
or  on  reading  some  authors  of  the  last  century,  particularly 
Bolton,  Baxter,  Flavel,  Bunyan.  There  was  one  Mr.  Sam- 
uel Morris  who  had  for  some  time  been  very  anxious  about 
his  own  salvation,  who  after  obtaining  blessed  relief  in 
Christ,  became  zealous  for  the  salvation  of  his  neighbours, 
and  very  earnest  to  use  means  to  awaken  them.  This  was 
the  tendency  of  his  conversation  ;  and  he  also  read  to  ihem 
such  authors  as  had  been  most  useful  to  himself,  particular- 
ly, Luther  on  the  Galatians,  and  his  Table  Discourses,  and 
several  pieces  of  honest  Bunyan's.  By  these  means  some  of 
his  neighbours  were  made  more  thoughtful  about  their 
souls  ;  but  the  concern  was  not  very  extensive.  I  have 
prevailed  on  my  good  friend  just  now  named,  who  was  the 
principal  private  instrument  of  promoting  the  late  work, 
and  therefore  well  acquainted  with  it,  to  write  me  a  oarra- 
live  of  iis  rise  and  progress,  and  this,  together  with  what  he 
and  others  have  told  me,  I  shall  present  to  you,  without  any 
material  alterations. 

"  In  the  year  1740,  Mr.  Whitfield  had  preached  at  Wil- 
liamsburgh  at  the  invitation  of  ]Mr.  Blair,  our  late  commis- 
sary. But  we  being  fifty  miles  distant  from  Williamsburgh, 
he  left  the  colony  before  we  had  an  opportunity  of  hearing 
him.  But  in  the  year  1743,  a  young  man  from  Scotland  had 
got  a  book  of  his  sermons  preached  in  Glasgow,  and  taken 
from  his  mouth  in  short  hand,  which  after  I  had  read  with 
great  benefit,  I  invited  my  neighbors  to  come  and  hear  it  ; 
and   the   plainness  and  fervency  of  these  discourses  being 


THE    REV.    \VM.    UOBINSON.  387 

attended  with   the   power  of  the    Lord,   many    were  con- 
vinced   of    their    undone    condition,    and    constrained    to 
seek    deliverance    with    the   greatest    solicitude.     A    con- 
siderable   number    met    to     hear     these    sermons     every 
Sabbath,  and   frequently,  on    weekdays.     The   concern    of 
some  was  so   passionate  and  violent,  that  they  could  not 
avoid   crying  out,  weeping  bitterly,  kc.     And    that,  when 
such  indications  of  religious  concern  were  so  strange  and 
ridiculous,  that  they  could  not  be  occasioned  by  example  or 
sympathy,  and  the  atfectation  of  them  would  be  so  unprofit- 
able an  instance  of  hypocrisy,  that  none  could  be  tempted  to 
it.     My  dwelling-house  at  length  was  too  small   to  contain 
the  people,  whereupon  we  determined  to  build  a  meeting- 
house, merely  for   reading.     And  having  never  been  used  to 
social  extempore  prayer,  none   of  us  durst  attempt  it.     By 
this  single  mean  several  were  awakened,  and  their  conduct 
ever  since  is  a  proof  of  the  continuance   and  happy  issue  of 
their  impressions.     When  the   report   was   spread    abroad, 
I  was  invited  to  several  places  to  read    these   sermons,  at  a 
considerable  distance,  and  by  this  means  the   concern   was 
propagated.     About  this  time,  our  absenting  ourselves  from 
the  established  Church,  contrary,  as  was  alleged,  to  the  laws 
of  the  land,  was  taken  notice  of,  and  we    were  called  upon 
by  the  court  to  assign  our  reasons  for  it,  and  to  declare  what 
denomination  we  were  of.     As  we  knew   but   little  of  any 
denomination  of   dissenters,  except   Quakers,  we  were  at  a 
loss  what  nainc  to  assume.     At  length, recollecting  that  Lu- 
thci  was  a  noted  reformer,  and  that  his  books  had  been  of 
especial  service  to  us,  wc  declared  ourselves  Lutherans  ;  and 
thus  we   continued,  until  Providence   sent  us  the  Rev.  Mr. 
William  Robinson.     This  Mr.  Robinson   was  a  zealous,  la- 
borious  minister  of  Christ,  who   by  the    permission  of  the 
presbytery  took  a  journey  through  the  new  settlements  in 
Pennsylvania,  Virginia,  and  ISorth  Carolina.     He  founded  a 
Congregation  at  Lunenburgh.*     In  Ameliaf  also,  a   county 
somewhat  nearer  us  than  the  ibrnier.  his  labours  were  exten- 
sively blest:    and  while  he  was  there,  some    of  our    people 

•  Now  Charlotte.  \  Now  Cumlierland. 


328  rnc   i!i;v.   u"i.  innUNsfiV. 

sent  liim  an  iii\  ilaiion  tu  cuiiic  and  preach  at  our  reading 
house.  Eein^  satisfied  about  the  soundness  of  his  princi- 
ples, and  being  informed  that  the  method  of  his  preaching: 
was  awakening,  we  were  very  eager  to  hear  him.  On  the 
6th  of  July,  1713,  he  preached  his  first  sermon  to  us  from 
Luke  xiii.  3.  and  continued  with  us  preaching  four  days  suc- 
ce.ssivcly.  The  congregation  was  large  the  first  day,  and 
vastly  increased  the  three  ensuing.  'Tis  hard  for  the  live- 
liest imagination  to  form  an  image  of  the  condition  of  the  as- 
sembly, on  these  glorious  days  of  the  >Son  of  man.  Such 
of  us  as  had  been  hungering  for  the  v,-ord  before,  were 
lost  in  an  agreeable  surprise  and  astoniihmenf,'  and 
some  could  net  refrain  from  publicly  declaring  their 
transport:  we  were  overwhelmed  v.ith  the  thoughts  of 
the  unexpected  goodness  of  God,  in  allowing  us  to  hear 
the  gospel  preached  in  a  manner  that  surpassed  cur 
hopes.  Many  that  came  through  curiosity  were  pricked  to 
the  heart,  and  but  few  in  the  numerous  assemblies  on  these 
four  days,  appeared  unaffected.  They  returned  alarmed 
with  apprehensions  of  their  dangerous  condition,  convinced 
of  their  former  entire  ignorance  of  religion,  and  anxiously 
inquiring  what  they  should  do  to  be  saved.  And  there  is 
reason  to  believe  there  v/as  as  much  good  dune  by  these  four 
sermons,  as  by  all  the  sermons  preached  m  these  parts  be- 
fore or  since.  Before  Mr.  Robinson  left  us,  he  successfully 
endeavoured  to  correct  some  of  our  mistakes,  and  to  bring 
us  to  carry  on  the  worship  of  God  more  regularly,  at  our 
meetings.  After  this  v\-e  met  to  read  good  sermons,  and  be- 
gan and  concluded  wiih  prayer  and  singing  of  psalms,  which 
till  then  we  had  omiitcd.  The  blessing  of  God  remarkably 
attended  these  more  private  means,  and  it  was  really  aston- 
ishing to  observe  the  solemn  impressions  begun  or  continued 
in  many,  by  hearing  good  discourses  read.  I  had  repeated  invi- 
tations to  come  to  many  places  round,  some  of  them  30  or  40 
miles  distant,  to  read.  Considerable  numbers  attended  with 
eager  attention  and  awful  solemnity,  and  several  were  in  a 
judgment  of  cljarity  turned  to  God,  and  thereupon  erected 
meeting-houses,  and  chose  readers  among  ithcmselves,  by 
which  the  work  was  more  cxtensivelv  carried  on. 


Tiir:   REV.   \v"\r.    horinsox.  329 

"Soon  after  Mr.  Robinson  left  u.s,  the  Rev.  I\lr.  John  Blair 
paid  us  a  visit  ;  and  truly  he  came  to  us  in  the  fulness  of  the 
gospel  of  Christ.  Former  impressions  were  ripened  and 
new  ones  made  on  many  hearts.  One  night  in  particular, 
a  whole  house  full  of  people  was  quite  overcome  with  the 
power  of  the  word,  particularly  of  one  pungent  sentence,  and 
they  could  hardly  sit  or  stand,  or  keep  their  passions  under 
proper  restraint.  So  general  was  the  concern  during  his 
stay  witli  us,  and  so  ignorant  were  we  of  the  danger  of 
apostacy,  that  we  pleased  ourselves  with  the  thoughts  of 
more  being  brought  to  Christ  at  that  time,  than  now  ap- 
pears to  have  been,  though  there  is  still  the  greatest  reason 
to  hope  that  several  bound  themselves  to  the  Lord  in  an 
everlasting  covenant  never  to  be  forgotten.  Some  lime  af- 
ter this,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Roan  was  sent  us  by  the  presbytery  of 
Newcastle.  He  continued  with  us  a  longer  t.me  than  any 
of  the  former,  and  the  happy  effects  of  his  ministrations  are 
still  apparent.  He  was  instrumental  in  beginning  and  pro- 
moting the  religious  concern  in  several  places  where  there 
was  little  appearance  of  it  before.  This,  together  with  his 
speaking  pretty  freely  about  the  degeneracy  of  the  clergy  in 
this  colony,  gave  a  general  alarm,  and  some  measures  were 
concerted  to  suppress  us.  To  incense  the  indignation  of  the 
government  the  more,  a  perfidious  wretch  deponed, he  heard 
Mr.  Roan  utter  blasphemous  expressions,  in  his  sermon. 
An  indictment  was  thereupon  drawn  up  against  Mr.  Roan, 
(though  by  that  time  he  had  departed  the  colony,)  and 
some  who  had  invited  him  to  preach  at  their  houses,  were 
cited  to  appear  before  the  general  court,  and  two  of  them 
were  fined.  While  my  cause  Avasupon  trial,  I  had  reason  to 
rejoice  that  the  throne  of  grace  is  accessible  in  all  pla- 
ces, and  that  helpless  creatures  can  send  up  their  desires  un- 
seen, in  the  midst  of  a  crowd.  Six  witnesses  were  cited  to 
prove  the  indictment  against  Mr.  Roan,  but  their  depositions 
were  in  his  favour  ;  and  the  witness  who  accused  him  of 
blasphemy,  when  he  heard  of  the  arrival  of  Messrs.  Ten- 
nent  and  Finlcy,  fled,  and  has  not  returned  since  ;  so  that 
the  indictment  was  dropped.  But  I  had  reason  to  fear  being 
banished  the  colonv,  and  all  circumstances  seemed  to  threat- 


J'JO  THE    IIKV.     \VM.     KOHINSON. 

ea  the  extirpation  ol  religion  among  the  dissenters  in  these 
parts.  In  these  difllcultics,  having  no  person  of  a  public 
character  to  appear  in  our  favour,  we  were  determined  to  ac- 
quaint the  Synod  of  New-York  with  our  case.  Accordingly 
four  of  us  went  to  the  Synod,  May,  1745,  when  the  Lord  fa- 
voured us  with  success.  The  synod  drew  up  an  address  lo  our 
governor,  the  honorable  Sir  William  Gooch,  and  sent  it  with 
Messrs.  Tennentand  Finlcy,  who  were  received  by  the  gov- 
crnor  with  respect,  who  gave  ihem  liberty  to  preach  among 
us.  By  this  means  the  dreadful  cloud  was  scattered  for 
a  while,  and  our  languid  hopes  revived.  They  continued 
with  us  about  a  week,  and  though  the  deluge  of  passion  in 
which  we  were  at  first  overwhelmed,  was  by  this  lime 
somewhat  abated,  yet  much  good  was  done  by  their  minis- 
try. The  people  of  God  were  refreshed,  and  several  care- 
less sinners  were  awakened.  Some,  that  had  trusted  before 
in  their  moral  conduct,  and  religious  duties,  were  convinced 
of  the  depravity  of  their  nature,  and  the  necessity  of  regen- 
eration, though  indeed  there  Avcre  but  few  unregenerate 
persons  among  us  at  that  time,  that  could  claim  so  regular 
a  character,  the  most  part  indulging  themselves  in  criminal 
liberties,  and  being  remiss  in  the  duties  of  religion,  which 
alas  !  is  too  commonly  the  case  still  in  such  parts  of  the  col- 
ony as  the  late  revival  did  not  extend  to. 

"After  they  left  us,  we  continued  vacant  for  a  considerable 
time,  and  kept  up  our  meetings  for  reading  and  praying  in 
several  places,  and  the  Lord  favored  us  with  his  presence. 
I  was  again  repeatedly  presented  and  fined  in  court  for 
absenting  myself  from  Church,  and  keeping  up  unlawful 
meetings,  as  they  were  called  ;  but  the  bush  flourished  in  the 
flames.  The  next  that  were  appointed  to  supply  us,  were  the 
Rev.  Messrs.  William  Tcnnent  and  Samuel  Blair.  They 
administered  the  Lord's  Supper  among  us  ;  and  we  have 
reason  ever  to  remember  it  as  a  most  glorious  day  of  the 
Son  of  JMan.  The  assembly  was  large,  and  the  novelty  of 
the  manner  of  the  administration,  did  peculiarly  engage  their 
attention.  It  appeared  as  one  of  the  days  of  heaven  to 
some  of  us  ;  and  we  could  hardly  help  wishing  we  could, 
with  Joshua,  have  delaved  the  revolutions  of  the  heaven?  to 


THE    REV.    W>I.    ROBINSON.  331 

prolong  it.  After  Messrs.  Tcnnent  and  Blair  were  gone, 
Mr.  Whitefield  came,  and  preached  four  or  five  days,  which 
was  the  happy  means  of  giving  us  further  encouragement, 
and  engaging  others  to  the  Lord,  especially  among  the 
church  peo})le,  who  received  the  gospel  more  readily 
from  him  than  from  ministers  of  the  Presbyterian  denom- 
ination. After  his  departure,  we  were  destitute  of  a  minister, 
and  followed  our  usual  method  of  reading  and  prayer,  at 
our  meeting,  till  the  Rev.  Mr.  Davies,  our  present  pastor, 
was  sent  us  by  the  presbytery,  to  supply  us  a  few  weeks  in 
the  spring,  1747  ;  when  our  discouragements  from  the  gov- 
ernment were  renewed  and  multiplied  ;  for,  upon  a  Lord's 
day,  a  proclamation  was  set  up  at  our  meeting  house,  strictly 
requiring  all  magistrates  to  suppress  and  prohibit,  as  far  as 
they  lawfully  could,  all  itinerant  preachers,  &:c.  which  oc- 
casioned us  to  forbear  reading  that  day,  till  we  had  time  to 
deliberate  and  consult  wbat  was  expedient  to  do  ;  but  how 
joyfully  were  we  surprised  before  the  next  Sabbath,  when 
we  unexpectedly  heard  that  Mr.  Davies  was  come  to  preach 
so  long  among  us,  and  especially  that  he  had  qualified  him- 
self, according  to  law,  and  obtained  the  licensing  of  four 
meetingh  ouses  among  us,  which  had  never  been  done  before. 
Thus  man's  extremity  is  the  Lord's  opportunity.  For  this 
seasonable  interposition  of  Divine  Providence,  we  desire  to 
offer  our  grateful  praises,  and  we  importune  the  friends  of 
Zion,  to  concur  with  us. 

"  Thus  far  Mr.  Morris's  narrative.  Then  the  Kev.  Mr. 
Davies  proceeds  to  give  an  account  of  the  state  of  their 
affairs  since  he  came  among  ihem  in  April,  1747. — 
'Upon  my  arrival,  I  petitioned  the  general  court  to  grant 
me  a  license  to  ofTiciate  in  and  about  Hanover,  at  four 
meeting-houses,  which,  after  some  delay,  was  granted, 
upon  my  qualifying  according  to  the  act  of  Toleration. 
I  preached  frequently  in  Hanover,  and  some  of  the  adjacent 
counties:  and  though  the  fervour  of  the  late  work  was  con- 
siderably abated,  and  my  labours  were  not  blessed  with  suc- 
cess equal  to  those  of  my  brethren,  yet  I  have  reason  to  hope 
they  were  of  service,  in  several  instances.  The  importunities 
ihev  used  with  me  to  settle  with  them  were  inviiicil»le  ;  and 


332  TJIK    UKV.     \VM.    IlOUr.NSON. 

upon  my  departure,  they  sent  a  call  for  me  to  the  presbyterj  . 
After  I  returned  from  Virginia,  I  spent  a  year  under  melan- 
choly and  consumptive  languishinenis,  expecting  death.  In 
the  spring  of  1748,  I  began  slowly  to  recover,  though  I  then 
looked  on  it  only  as  the  intermission  of  a  disorder  that  would 
finally  prove  mortal.  But  upon  the  arrival  ofa  messenger  from 
Hanover, I  put  my  life  in  my  hand,  and  determined  to  accept  of 
their  call,  hoping  I  might  live  to  prepare  the  way  for  some 
more  useful  successor,  and  willing  to  expire  under  the  fatigues 
of  duty,  rather  than  in  voluntary  negligence.  The  Hon.  Sir 
Wm.  Gooch  our  late  governor,  always  discovered  a  ready  dis- 
position to  allow  us  all  claimable  privileges,  and  the  great- 
est aversion  to  persecuting  measures;  but,  considering  the 
shocking  reports  spread  abroad  concerning  us  by  officious 
malignants,  it  was  no  great  wonder  that  the  council  discov- 
ered considerable  reluctance  to  tolerate  us.  Had  it  not 
been  for  this,  I  persuade  myself  they  would  have  shown 
themselves  the  guardians  of  our  legal  privileges,  as  well  as 
generous  patriots  to  their  country,  which  is  the  character 
generally  given  them.  In  October,  1748,  besides  the  four 
meeting-houses  already  mentioned,  the  people  petitioned 
for  the  licensing  of  three  more,  which  with  great  diffiiculty 
was  obtained.  Among  these  seven,  I  have  hitherto  divided 
ray  time.  Three  of  them  lay  in  Hanover  coimty,  the  other 
four  in  the  counties  of  Henrico,  Carolina,  Louisa,  and 
Goochland.  The  nearest  are  twelve  or  fifteen  milts  distant 
from  each  other,  and  the  ex'remes  about  forty.  ]\Iy  congre- 
gation is  very  much  dispersed,  and  notwithstanding  the 
number  of  the  meeting-houses,  some  live  twenty,  some  thirty, 
and  a  few  forty  miles  from  the  nearest.  Were  they  all 
compactly  situated  in  one  county,  they  would  be  sufficient 
to  form  three  distinct  congregations.  Many  of  the  church 
people  also  attend  v.-hen  there  is  sermon  at  any  of  these 
houses.  This  I  looked  upon  at  first  as  mere  curiosity  after  nov- 
elty, but  as  it  continues,  and  in  some  places  seems  to  increase, 
I  cannot  but  look  upon  it  as  a  happy  token  of  their  being  at 
length  thoroughly  engaged.  And  I  have  the  greater  reason 
to  hope  so  now,  as  experience  has  confirmed  my  former 
hopes.     Fifty  or  sixty    families  having  thus   been    hnppilv 


rHK     IlEV.     W.M.     KOUINSON.  333 

entanglfd  in  the  ^|et  of  the  gospel  by  their  own  curiosity, 
or  some  such  motive.  There  are  about  three  hundred  com- 
municants in  my  congregation,  of  whom  the  greatest  num- 
ber  are  iu  the  judgment  of  rational  charily,  real  Christians. 
Besides  some,  who,  through  excessive  scrupulousness,  do 
not  seek  admission  to  the  Lord's  table.  There  is  also  a  num- 
ber of  Negroes.  Sometimes  I  see  an  hundred  and  more 
among  my  hearers.  (Psal.  Ixviii.  31.)  I  have  baptized  about 
forty  of  them  within  these  three  years,  upon  such  a  profession 
of  faith  as  I  then  judged  credible.  Some  of  thera,  I  fear,  have 
apostatized  ;  but  others  I  trust,  will  persevere  to  the  end. 
I  have  had  as  satisfying  evidences  of  as  sincere  piety  from 
several  of  them,  as  I  ever  had  from  any  person  in  my  life, 
and  their  artless  simplicity,  iheir  passionate  aspirations  af- 
ter Christ,  their  incessant  endeavours  to  know  and  do  the 
v/ill  of  God,  have  charmed  me.  But  alas  !  while  my  charge 
is  so  extensive,  I  cannot  take  sufficient  pains  with  them  for 
their  instruction,  which  often  oppresses  my  heart. 

"  There  have  been  instances  of  unhappy  apostacy  among 
us  ;  but,  blessed  be  God,  not  many  in  proportion  to  the  num- 
ber brought  under  concern.  At  present  there  are  a  few 
under  promising  impressions;  but,  in  general,  a  lamentable 
security  prevails.  Oh,  for  a  little  reviving  m  our  bondage  ! 
I  might  have  given  you  a  particular  account  oi'  the  conver- 
sion of  some  persons  here,  as  indeed  there  arc  some  uncom- 
mon instances  of  it,  but  I  shall  only  observe  in  general,  that 
abstracting  from  particular  circumstances,  the  work  of  con- 
version has  been  carried  on  iu  such  steps  as  are  described 
by  experimental  divines,  as  Allciu,  Shepherd,  Stoddard, 
Flavel,  tSrc.  And  nothing  conilniis  me  more  in  the  truth  of 
their  opinions  concerning  experimental  piety,  than  this 
agreement  and  uniformity  as  to  the  suljstancc,  in  the  exer- 
cises of  those  that  can  make  the  fairest  claim  to  saving  grace. 
There  is  une  Isaac  Oliver  here,  whose  history,  could  I  write 
it  inleUigibly  to  you,  would  be  very  entertaining.  He  has 
been  deaf  and  dumb  from  his  birth,  and  yet  I  have  the 
utmost  reason  to  believe  he  is  truly  gracious,  and  also  ac- 
quainted with  most  of  the  doctrines,  and  many  of  the  histo- 
iical  fads  of  the  Bible.     1  have  been  him  represent  the  cru- 

U 


334  iiiF,  i;tv,   \VM.  riOEi>-soN. 

cifixion  of  Christ  in  such  eignficant  eign^,  iLal  I  could  not 
but  understand  ihcm.  Those  that  live  in  the  house  v/iih 
him,  can  hold  convtrsation  with  him  very  readily.  There 
is  so  much  of  the  devcut  apJour  of  his  toul  difccvcred  at 
times,  as  is  really  afl'cciing,  and  I  have  seen  him  converse 
in  signs  abnut  the  love  and  sufferings  of  Christ,  till  he  has 
been  transported  into  eari^.csiness,  and  dissolved  in  tears. 
The  above  Mr.  Morris,  with  whom  he  lives,  has  told  me, 
that  eight  years  ago,  ho  appeared  remarkably  changed,  and 
ever  since  is  very  conscientious  in  tlie  whole  of  his  beha- 
viour;  generally  delights  to  attend  Loth  [ubiic  and  family 
worship,  thou.'h  he  cannot  hear  a  word  ;  and  is  observed 
Eomeiivncs  to  retire  to  secret  prayer,  though  he  signifies  that 
he  is  praying  with  his  heart,  when  about  his  business,  or  in 
company,  which  is  peculiarly  practicable  to  him,  as  in  all 
places  he  enjoys  retirement.  I  could  relate  several  peculia- 
rities about  him  ;  but  as  they  are  unintelligible  to  myself,  or 
might  seem  incredible  to  those  that  are  unacquainted  with 
him,  I  omit  them.  So  much,  however,  I  know  of  him,  that 
I  cannot  but  look  upon  him  as  a  miraculous  monument  of 
Almighty  grace,  that  ean  perform  its  purposes  on  men,  not- 
withstanding the  greatest  natural  or  moral  impediments  : 
and  I  submit  it  to  the  judgment  of  ethers,  whether  a  person 
so  incapable  of  external  instructions,  cculd  le  brought  to 
kn('W  the  mysteries  of  the  kingdcm  of  heaven  any  other 
way  than  by  immediate  revelation.  Besides  the  people  here, 
several  of  my  brethren,  who  have  been  here,  particularly 
Messrs.  Samuel  Blair  and  John  Rcan,  can  attest  this  relation. 
I  forgot  to  inform  you,  iu  i;s  proper  place,  that  the  Iitv.  Mr. 
Davenport  was  sent  by  the  synod  to  Ilancver  last  summer, 
and  continued  here  about  t-'^o  months.  And,  LIcsl  be  God, 
did  not  labour  in  vain.  Some  were  brought  under  concern, 
and  many  of  the  Lord's  people  much  revived,  who  can  never 
forget  the  instrument  cf  it. 

''  Thup,  dear  Sir,  I  have  given  you  a  brief  account  of  Avhat 
I  am  persuaded  you  will  readilj  ov.'n  to  be  the  work  of  the 
Lord.  We  claim  no  infallibility,  but  we  rnuc-t  not  fall  into 
scepticism.  If  we  could  form  no  judgment  cf  such  a  work, 
why  should  we  pretend  to  promote  the  conversion  of  men,  if 


TilH    IIKV.    W.M.    iioi:iNso>-.  335 

we  canuoi  iiave  any  satisfying  knoulcdge  of  it,  ■nhcn  it  ap- 
pears ?  Indeed,  the  evidence  of  its  Jiviiiiiy  here  is  to  irre- 
sistible, that  it  has  extorted  an  aclcnowlcdginent  from  some 
from  whom  it  could  hardly  be  expected.  »  Were  you,  Sir,  a 
narrow  bigot,  you  would,  no  doubt,  rejoice  to  hear  that  there 
are  now  some  hundreds  of  dissenters  in  a  place,  where,  a 
few  years  ago,  there  were  not  ten  :  but  I  assure  myself  of 
your  congratulations  on  a  nobler  account,  because  a  con- 
siderable number  of  perishing  sinners  are  gained  to  the 
blessed  Redeemer,  with  whom,  though  you  never  sec  them 
here,  you  may  spend  a  blissful  eiernity.  After  all,  poor 
Virginia  demands  your  compassion,  for  religion  at  present  is 
but  like  the  cloud  which  Elijah's  servant  saw.  Oh  that  it 
may  spread  and  cover  the  land  ! 

"  As  to  other  counties  where  dissenters  are  settled. — There 
are  two  congregations,  one  in  Albermarle,  and  one  in  Au- 
gusta county,  belonging  to  the  synod  of  Philadelphia,  that 
have  ministers  settled  among  them  :  but  those  that  have  put 
themselves  under  the  care  of  the  New  Castle  presbytery 
(which  are  vastly  more  numerous),  notwithstanding  their 
repeated  endeavours,  are  still  destitute  of  ministers.     There 
are  as  many  of  them  as  would  form  five  distinct  congrega- 
tions, three  at  least  in  Augusta,  one  in  Frederick,  and  one  at 
least  in  Lunenburgh   and  Amelia.*      Notwithstanding  the 
supplies  our  presbytery  have  sent  ti;em,  some  of  them,  par- 
ticularly Lunenburgh,  have  been  both  a  year  together  with- 
out one  sermon.     I  hope  one  of  ihcm  may  soon  be  provided 
by  a  pious  young  man,  Mr.  Todd,  sent  by  New  Brunswick 
presbytcrv,  but  I  have  no  prospect  as  to  the  rest ;  for  I  can 
now  count  up  at  least  six  or  seven  vacant  congregations  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  two  or  three  i.i  ^Maryland,  besides  the 
five  mentioned  in  the  frontier  counties  of  Virginia,  and  a 
part  of  my  own  congregation,  which  I  would  willingly  de- 
clare vacant,   had    they  opportunity  of  obtaining  another 
minister.     Ai.d  there  are  but  twelve  members  in  New  Castle 
presbj  tery,  and  two  or  three  candidates  that  are  pre-engaged 
to  vacancies  in  Pennsylvania.     We  have  indeed  of  late  li« 

•  Now  Charlotte,  and  rumbpriand. 

r2 


3;J»)  Jiii:    i!i;\".   w.M.   KOisiNsoN. 

censed  scvt-ial  pious  yomli<,  1  iit  our  vacancies  incna«c 
almost  as  fast  as  oiir  ininit-tcr^,  by  the  fettlement  of  ntw 
places,  or  the  brcakin^x  <"(  of  religious  concern  in  j)Iares 
where  there  was  iiitlc  before;  and  some  of  our  most  useful 
members  are  )atrly  called  home  by  death  ;  such  as  Messrs. 
Robinson  and  Dran,  and  now  Mr.  Samuel  Blair.  May  the 
Lord  induce  faithful  ministers  from  New  England,  or 
wherever  they  might  be  spared,  to  come  and  help  us  I 
While  these  congregations  have  been  dcsiitutc  of  settled 
pastors,  itinerant  prtacjjing  among  them  has,  by  the  bless- 
ing of  God,  been  very  useful.  Mr.  Robinson  underwent 
great  hardships  in  North  Carolina,  without  mnch  success,  by 
reason  of  the  fewness  and  savage  ignorance  of  the  inhabit- 
ants ;  but  the  case  is  now  happily  altered.  A  new  congre- 
gation, I  think  upon  Pee-dee  river,  sent  a  petition  lately  to 
our  presbytery  for  a  minister.  Besides  this,  1  hear  of  several 
other  places  in  North  Carolina,  that  are  ripening  very  fast 
for  the  gospel.  '0  that  the  Lord  would  send  forth  faithful 
labourers  into  his  harvest!'  Mr.  Robinson  was  the  instru- 
ment of  awakening  several  in  Lunenburgh  and  Amelia, 
with  whom  I  lately  spent  a  fortnight,  at  their  earnest  desire; 
and  there  is  a  prospect  of  doing  much  service,  were  they 
famished  with  a  faithful  minister.  I  met  with  most  encou- 
ragement in  a  part  of  Amelia  county,  where  very  few  had 
heard  any  of  my  brethren.  The  assemblies  were  large  even 
on  week  days,  and  sometimes  there  appeared  much  solem- 
nity and  affection  among  them.  There  appears  great  proba- 
bility of  success,  if  they  had  a  faithful  minister.  It  was 
really  afflicting  to  me  that  the  necessity  of  my  own  congrega- 
tion constrained  me  to  leave  them  so  soon.  In  Augusta, 
there  is  a  great  number  of  solid  lively  Christians.  There 
w^as  a  pretty  general  awakening  there  some  years  ago,  under 
the  ministry  of  Messrs.  Dean  and  Byrara.  I  believe  three 
ministers  might  live  very  comfortably  among  them.  In 
Frederick  county,  there  has  also  been  (as  I  am  informed  by 
my  brethren  who  have  been  there)  a  considerable  awaken- 
ing some  years  ago,  which  has  had  a  blessed  issue  in  many, 
and  the  congregation  have  been  seeking  a  minister  these 
several  years.     In  Maryland  also,  there  has  been  a  consider' 


THE    REV.    WM.    ROBINSON.  337 

able  revival  (shall  I  call  it  ?)  or  first  plantation  of  religion, 
in  Baltimore  county,  where  I  am  informed  Mr.  Whittlesey 
is  likely  to  settle.  In  Kent  county,  and  Queen  Anne's,  a 
number  of  careless  sinners  have  been  awakened  and  hope- 
fully brought  to  Christ.  The  work  was  begun  and  chiefly 
carried  on  by  the  instrumentality  of  that  favoured  man  Mr. 
Robinson,  whose  success,  whenever  I  reflect  upon  it,  aston- 
ishes me.  Oh  I  he  did  much  in  a  little  time,  and  who  would 
not  choose  such  an  expeditious  pilgrimage  through  this 
WMjrld  ?  There  is,  in  these  places,  a  considerable  congrega- 
tion, and  they  have  have  made  repeated  essays  to  obtain  a 
settled  minister.  There  was  a  great  stir  about  religion  in 
Buckingham,  a  place  on  the  sea-shore,  about  four  years  ago, 
which  has  since  spread  and  issued  in  a  hopeful  conversion  in 
several  instances.  They  also  want  a  minister.  But  the  ^ 
most  glorious  display  of  divine  grace  in  Maryland  has  been  ^ 
in  and  abuut  Somerset  county.  It  began,  I  think,  in  1745, 
by  the  ministry  (<f  Mr.  Rohinson,  and  was  afterwards  carried 
on  by  several  ministers  that  preached  transiently  there.  I 
was  there  about  two  months,  when  the  work  was  at  its 
height,  and  I  never  saw  such  a  deep  and  spreading  concern  : 
the  assemblies  were  numerous,  though  in  the  extremity  of  a 
cold  winter,  and  unwearied  in  attending  the  word  ;  and  fre- 
quently there  were  very  few  among  them  that  did  not  give 
some  plain  indications  of  distress  or  joy.  Oh  !  these  were 
the  happiest  days  that  ever  my  eyes  saw.  Since  t^hat,  the 
harvest  seems  over  there,  though  considerable  gleanings,  I 
hear,  are  still  gathered.  They  have  of  late  got  IMr.  Henry 
for  their  minister,  a  young  man,  who,  I  trust,  will  be  an  ex- 
tensive blessing  to  that  part  of  the  colony.  I  shall  prize 
it,  dear  Sir,  as  a  great  blessing,  if  you  and  others  of  the 
Lord's  servants  and  people  in  distant  parts,  favour  us  with 
your  prayers.  And  shall  be  glad  to  correspond  Avith  them. 
Our  acquaintance  with  the  various  parts  of  the  church, 
qualifies  us  to  adapt  our  prayers  to  their  state.  May  your 
Divine  Master  bless  you  and  succeed  your  ministrations,  and 
pour  out  his  Spirit  on  the  land  whore  you  reside.    Inm,  &:c.' 

»  "  May  22d  1745,  Mr.  G.  Tennant  and  Mr.  Davies. liiinc; at  Edin- 
U3 


338  Titi;    nr.v.    wm.   i;otiinso.v. 

Not  only  in  Hanover,  biu  in  all  the  placos,  wliere 
Mr.  Robinson  preached,  there  were  permanent  fruits 
of  his  labours.  The  writer  has  seen  and  conversed 
with  a  number  of  persons  who  were  brought  to 
serious  consideration  under  the  ministry  of  this  suc- 
cessful evangelist.  Old  John  White,  who  resided 
near  Charlcstown,in  Jeflferson  county,  and  who  was 
the  father  of  judge  White  of  Winchester,  was  one  of 
Mr.  Robinson's  great  admirers,  and  I  believe,  brought 
to  the  experimental  knowledge  of  the  truth  under 
his  ministry.  Old  Mr.  Hoge,  the  father  of  the 
Rev.  Dr,    Moses   Hoge,  who    was   a  Seceder,  in- 

burgh,  as  agents  for  tlie  trustees  of  the  college  of  New-Jersey  (an 
institution  that  promises  well,  if  the  Lord  vouchsafe  it  his  blessing, 
for  the  sucicss  of  the  goj-pel.)  Mr.  Davies  informs,  that  one  Mr. 
Brown  is  lately  ordained  in  Augusts  county,  where  there  were  sundry 
congregations  vacant  ever  since  their  first  settlement ;  that  he  has  the 
care  of  two  meetings,  and  as  he  is  a  youth  of  piety,  prudence,  and 
zeal,  there  is  reason  to  ixp  ect  that  his  labours  wiJI  be  of  service  in 
that  wilderness,  not  only  in  his  own  more  peculiar  charge,  but  in 
the  neighboring  places  that  have  no  minister  of  their  own.  Also- 
that  Mr.  John  Wright,  who  supplies  Mr.  Davies'  charge  in  his  al>- 
eence,  has  wrote,  that  since  he  has  officiated  in  his  place,  there  are 
considerable  appearances  of  success  in  Caroline  and  Henrico,  where 
Mr.  Davies  was  apprehensive  he  labored  much  in  vain.  When  Mr. 
Davies  left  Virginia  in  August,  last,  there  was  a  hopeful  appear- 
ance  of  a  greater  spread  of  religious  concern  among  the  Ne- 
groes. A  few  weeks  before  he  left  home,  he  baptized  in  one  day 
fifteen  Negroes  after  they  had  been  catechised  for  some  months, 
and  given  credible  evidences  of  their  sincerely  embracing  the  gos- 
pel. He  also  says,  that  Isaac  Oliver,  the  dumb  man  mentioned  in 
hii  letter  above,  has  behaved  as  one  would  expect  from  such  promising 
beginnings,  his  conduct  being  such  as  becomes  the  proiisssion  of  th» 
gospel." 


THE    RF.V.    \VM.    ROBINSON.  339 

formed  the  writer,  that  he  often  licard  Robinson 
wlien  he  preached  at  Opekin  and  Cedar  Creek,  in 
Frederick  county ;  and  while  he  admitted  that  he 
preached  the  gospel  faithfully,  and  with  great  zeal ; 
yet  said,  there  was  a  want  of  method  iii  his  dis- 
courses. After  Mr.  Robinson's  return  from  this  in- 
teresting tour,  he  laboured  in  the  state  of  New  York, 
with  his  usual  success ;  and  also  in  some  congrega- 
tions in  Maryland,  where  there  was  a  blessed  work 
of  grace  under  his  ministry. 

Probably  Mr.  Robinson,  during  the  short  period 
of  his  life,  was  the  instrument  in  the  conversion  of 
as  many  souls,  as  any  minister  who  ever  lived  in 
this  country.  The  only  circumstance  relating  to  his 
person  which  has  come  down  is,  that  he  was  blind 
of  one  eye  ;  so  that  by  some  he  was  called  "  the 
one-eyed  Robinson." 

We  are  also  entirely  ignorant  of  the  circumstances 
of  his  death.  This  event  we  know  occurred  before 
the  year  1751,  in  which  Mr.  Davies  wrote  his  letter 
to  Mr.  Bellamy,  for  it  is  mentioned  with  grief  in 
that  communication.  If  we  mistake  not,  Mr.  Da- 
vies  has  celebrated  the  labours  and  successes  of  this 
servant  of  God,  in  one  of  his  poems  ;  and  Mr.  Ten- 
nent,  somewhere,  speaks  of  him  as  "  that  wonderful 
man."  Mr.  Robinson  was  never  married,  and  had, 
it  is  believed,  no  relatives  in  this  country ;  and  as 
far  as  appears  never  printed  anything,  nor  left  any 
of  his  writings  to  be  a  memorial  to  posterity  of  his 


340  THE     RKV.     WM.    IIOBINSON. 

fervent  piety  and  evangelical  spirit.  It  is  not  even 
known,  where  his  body  rests  ;  but  his  glorious  Mas- 
ter whom  he  served  so  faithfully  in  the  gospel,  will 
know  where  to  find  it,  when  He  shall  come  to  resus- 
citate the  bodies  of  his  saints. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  ROWLAND. 

Mr.  Rowland  received  by  llie  New  Prunswick  Prcsbj  terj',  at  its  first 
meeting  in  violation  of  the  rule  of  Synod — His  trials — Speedy 
licensure — Accepts  a  call  to  Maidenhead  and  Hopewell — Great 
revival — His  letter  to  Mr.  Prince — Removal  to  Pennsylvania — 
Revival  at  New  Providence — Close  of  life  unknown. 

Of  Mr.  Rowland  nothing  is  known  prior  to  the 
time  when  he  was  taken  under  the  care  of  the  New 
Brunswick  presbytery,  at  its  first  meeting  in  Au- 
gust, 173S.  It  is  certain,  indeed,  that  he  was  an 
akumius  of  the  Log  College,  where  probably  he  re- 
ceived the  principal  part  of  his  education. 

In  receiving  him  under  tlieir  care,  the  presbytery 
deliberately  violated  a  standing  rule  of  the  synod, 
which  required,  that  every  candidate,  before  being 
taken  on  trials  by  any  presbytery,  should  submit 
himself  to  an  examination  on  his  classical  and  scien- 
tific attainments,  to  a  committee  of  the  synod.  This 
rule  the  presbytery  of  New  Brunswick  believed  to 
be  arbitrary,  and  an  undue  infringement  on  tiie 
rights  of  presbyteries ;  and  therefore  determined  to 
disregard  it.     This  was  undoubtedly  a  rash  and  dis- 


342  TITR     PRV,    JOHN     P.OWI.AMi. 

orderly  proceeding.  Even  if  their  opinion  about 
the  rights  of  presbyteries  had  been  correct,  they 
should  first  have  remonstrated  against  the  synod's 
rule,  and  endeavoured  to  have  it  repealed.  But  the 
members  of  this  new  presbytery  having  been  the 
principal  supporters  of  the  Log  Collogo,  considered 
the  rule  of  the  synod  as  particularly  directed  against 
that  institution  ;  and  on  this  account  were  disposed 
to  resist  it.  Hence  arose  the  violent  dissension  be- 
tween this  presbytery  and  the  synod,  which  issued 
in  a  division  of  the  body  into  two  parts,  the  Old 
and  the  New  Side  ;  of  which  an  account  has  already 
been  given. 

At  this  first  meeting  of  the  New  Brunswick  pres- 
bytery, the  following  ministers  and  elders  were 
present,  viz.,  Gilbert  Tennent,  John  Cross,  William 
Tennent,  Eleazer  Wales,  and  Samuel  Blair.  The 
elders  were  James  McCoy,  John  Henry,  William 
Moor,  Robert  Cunningham,  and  Thomas  Davis. 
As  none,  in  the  minutes,  are  marked  as  absent,  it 
would  seem  that  this  first  meeting  of  the  presbytery 
set  an  example  deserving  the  imitation  of  their  suc- 
cessors. All  the  ministers  were  in  their  place  ;  and 
an  equal  number  of  ruling  elders ;  so  that  there 
was  no  delinquency  on  their  part.  The  first  busi- 
ness, after  they  were  regularly  constitiUed,  was,  the 
receiving  of  Mr.  John  Rowland  as  a  candidate  im- 
der  their  care.  And  in  regard  to  the  rule  of  synod, 
after  much  discussion  they  adopted  the  following 
resolution. 


THE  nr-V.  joirx  Rowland.  343 

"  That  in  point  of  conscience,  they  were  not  re- 
strained from  using  the  Hberty  and  power,  which 
presbyteries  all  along  have  hitherto  enjoyed ;  but 
that  it  was  their  duty  to  take  the  said  Mr.  Rowland 
on  trials,  for  which  conclusion  they  conceive  they 
have  many  weighty  and  sufficient  reasons." 

The  presbytery  then  proceeded  to  the  examina- 
tion of  Mr.  Rowland,  "  on  (he  several  parts  of  learn- 
ing, and  on  his  experience  of  a  work  of  converting 
grace  in  his  soul,  which  he  sustained  to  their  satis- 
faction." 

Tlie  trials  of  Mr.  Rowland  were  carried  through 
as  rapidly  as  \vas  consistent  with  the  usage  in  such 
cases.  The  prfes'bytery  met  again  on  the  1st  day 
of  September  of  the  same  year,  when  he  read  a 
Latin  exegesis,  and  a  sermon  on  Ps.  Ixxxvii.  5.  With 
these  trials  the  presbytery  expressed  themselves 
Avell  pleased ;  and  assigned  him  as  the  subject  of  a 
popular  sermon,  Rom.  iii.  24,  and  adjourned  to  meet 
the  following  week,  at  Freehold,  when  Mr.  Row- 
land preached  at  the  opening  of  the  presbytery,  who 
having  taken  the  sermon  under  consideration,  it  was 
highly  and  unanimously  approved. 

The  candidate  having  now  gone  through  all  the 
prescribed  trials,  after  adopting  the  Westminster 
Confession  of  Faith  as  the  confession  of  his  faith, 
was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  of  Christ.  His 
licensure  took  place  exactly  one  month  after  he  was 
taken  under  the  care  of  the  presbytery.     There  is  no 


344  TiiF,   n7:v.  jomn   iioui.  wd. 

reason  to  lead  us  to  conrliKle  ilmi  Mr.  Rowland  was 
deficient  in  the  qualifications  reciuisitc  for  the  ollice 
of  the  ministry.  From  the  record  it  appears,  that 
the  presbytery  were  well  satisfied  with  all  the  parts 
of  his  trials  ;  and  it  is  known  that  he  was  a  popular 
and  an  awakening  preacher,  and  that  his  ministry 
was  attended  with  much  success. 

As  might  have  been  expected,  this  act  of  the  pres- 
bytery brought  down  upon  them  the  censure  of  the 
synod ;  and  the  presbytery  not  being  disposed  to 
submit  to  a  rule  which  they  considered  arbitrary 
and  inconsistent  with  their  rights,  thmgs  grew 
worse  and  worse,  until  the  parties  separated.  Be- 
fore this  event,  however,  the  synod  absolutely  re- 
fused to  consider  Mr.  Rowland  as  a  member  of  their 
body.  They  did  not  deny  that  he  was  a  minister 
of  the  gospel,  but  alleged,  that  having  been  brought 
in  contrary  to  their  rules,  he  could  not  be  recognised 
as  a  member.  It  appears  from  Mr.  Rowland's  let- 
ter to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Prince  of  Boston,  that  on  the 
very  day  of  his  being  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel, 
an  application  was  made  to  the  presbytery  for  his 
services,  by  the  united  congregations  of  Maidenhead 
(Lawrence)  and  Hopewell  (Pennington).  And  it 
was  not  long  after  this,  that  he  was  artfully  perso- 
nated by  Tom  Bell,  when  he  was  absent  on  a 
preaching  tour  in  JNTaryland,  in  company  with  the 
Rev.  William  Tennent.  On  his  return,  as  has  been 
related  in  the  life  of  Mr,  William  Tennent,  he  was 


run  Bi:v.  joii.v  liowi.A.ND.  315 

iiulictcd  for  horse-stealing  and  robboiy,  was  cleared 
by  the  testimory  of  Mr.  Tcnncnt  and  two  others, 
who  swore  that  he  was,  at  the  time,  in  a  distant 
part  of  the  country.  But  the  impression  on  the  pub- 
he  mind  was  so  strong,  that  he  was  the  person  seen 
by  many  in  the  por;3cssion  of  the  stolen  horse,  that 
the  three  witnesses,  including  Mr.  Tennent,  were 
indicted  for  perjury,  and  one  of  them  actually  suf- 
fered the  penalty  of  the  law  for  this  crime.  How 
wonderfully  Mr.  Tennent  was  delivered  from  an  ig- 
nominious punishment,  may  bo  seen  in  the  memoir 
wfiich  we  have  published  of  this  extraordinary  man. 

Mr.  Rowland  accepted  the  invitation  of  the  con- 
gregations before  mentioned,  and  his  labours  among 
them  were  attended  with  an  exiraordinary  blessing, 
in  a  great  revival  of  religion;  in  both  these  congre- 
gations. But  as  Mr.  Rowland  himself  has  given  a 
narrative  of  this  work  of  grace,  in  a  letter  to  the 
Rev.  yU.  Prince  of  Boston,  we  think  it  most  expe- 
dient to  publish  his  own  accnunt,  in  his  own  words. 

The  letter  is  as  follows : 

"  Rev.  SiFv, 

"  In  answer  to  yours,  6:c. — I  was  sent  forth  to  preach  the 
gospel  of  Christ,  by  the  presbytery  of  New  Brunswick,  on 
September  7ih,  173S,  oa  which  day  the  congregation  of 
Maidenhead  and  Ilopcv/ell,  put  in  a  supplication  for  me  to 
the  presbytery  ;  and  accordingly  I  complied  therewith.  In 
process  of  time,  we  had  the  privilege  of  Maidenhead  meet- 
ing-house, and  my  people  built  a  meeting-house  in  Hope- 
well ;  but,  before  this,  we  were  constrained  to  keep  our 
mpptin^s  in  barns  in  both  towns  ;  and.  though  w?  thug  ap- 


34(i  THi;   iu:v.  joiin   koulanh. 

peared  as  poor  despised  croaiures,  yet  Uic  congrogaiion  that 
attended  my  ministry,  was  so  numerous,  that  the  largest 
barns  among  us  were  chosen  to  worship  God  in.  It  was 
some  discouraijcmeni  to  me  at  first,  that  I  and  rny  people 
had  no  better  places  for  divine  worship  ;  but  at  that  litne  1 
thought  on  these  ihin^^s,  which  proved  some  support  to  me, 
viz.,  that  our  Lord  and  Saviour  was  born  in  a  mean  place, 
and  likewise  preached  in  the  ship,  and  on  the  mountain, 
as  well  as  in  the  synagogues,  and  that  it  had  been  the  fre- 
quent Jot  of  his  people,  to  betake  themselves  to  worship  him 
in  places  attended  with  many  inconveniences.  There  is  an- 
other town  lying  contiguous  to  Hopewell,  which  is  called 
Amwell ;  the  people  there  were  something  numerous  like- 
wise ;  and  having  none  to  labour  among  them  in  the  word, 
they  petitioned  for  a  part  of  my  time,  viz.,  one  Sabbaih  in 
three;  and  it  was  granted  unto  them  ;  so  tliat  my  labours 
among  these  three  towns,  for  the  most  part  of  the  time  that 
I  lived  in  the  Jerseys,  were  equally  divided.  There  was  a 
small  number  in  Hopewell  and  Maidenhead,  truly  ac- 
quainted with  vital  religion,  as  far  as  I  could  judge,  before  I 
came  among  them,  and  they  seemed  so  earnest  in  prayer, 
night  and  day,  to  have  the  gospel  in  power  among  them,  as 
if  they  would  take  no  denial.  But  of  them  who  became  my 
congregation  in  Amwell,  there  were  but  very  few  that  kneAv 
the  Lord  Jesus  when  I  came  among  them  ;  yet,  in  many 
ways,  they  were  a  very  agreeable  people;  so  that  I  was 
much  encouraged  to  labour  among  them. 

"  The  subjects  which  I  chiefly  insisted  on  for  about  six 
months,  were  conviction  and  conversiun  :  and  usually  I 
made  choice  of  the  most  rousing  and  awakening  texts,  to  set 
forth  the  nature  of  these  doctrines ;  and  I  have  reason  to 
hope,  that  the  Lord  began  to  accompany  his  word  in  a 
measure  from  the  very  first.  Some  began  to  be  convinced 
that  they  were  in  the  way  to  misery,  and  unacquainted  with 
the  way  to  the  kingdom  of  Heaven.  But  then,  let  it  be  ob- 
served, that  but  one  or  two  were  taken  with  convictions  at  a 
time,  or  under  one  sermon  :  for  many  months  together*  their 

*  "  Let  none  suppose  that  because  I  speak  of  convictions  being 
Btill  carried  on,  that  I  mean  tliat  sinners  must  he  convinced  to  some 


THE     UEV.    JOHN    IIOWLAND.  347 

convictions  were  still  increased,  and  the  number  of  the  con- 
vinced was  still  multiplied.  I  commonly  proaciied  in  the 
night  as  well  as  in  the  day,  and  IVequonily  on  week  days 
also;  so  tliat  they  had  hardly  any  opportunity  to  cast  their 
convictions  out  of  their  thoughts,  the  Lord  continuing  to  co- 
operate with  his  word.  The  frequent  opportunities  wliich  1 
took  to  examine  them  were  made  very  beneficial,  through 
the  divine  blc||ing,  to  preserve  their  convictions  alive  until 
the  time  of  grace,  of  which  I  shall  speak  afterwards.  The 
attention  of  all,  in  general,  was  awakened  ;  fathers,  mothers, 
and  the  youth  ;  some  negroes,  also,  seemed  very  earnest  after 
the  word,  and  were  convinced  thereby  of  their  sin  and  mis- 
ery, and  that  Christ  they  must  have,  or  perish  for  ever. 

"  The  people  of  God  were  much  enlivened  to  see  poor  sin- 
ners convinced  of  the  perishing  nature  of  their  state,  and 
their  absolute  need  of  Christ:  their  supplications  to  God 
were  mostly  bent  for  the  conversion  of  sinners,  and  their 
conversation,  whenever  they  met  together,  as  far  as  I  ob- 
served it,  (and  frequent  opportunities  I  had  to  observe  it) 
savoured  exceedingly  of  the  things  of  God  ;  so  that  I  can- 
not say  that  I  ever  saw  those  pious  people  given  to  wordli- 
ncss  in  their  conversation,  or  to  lightness  and  vanity  in  their 
discourses.  Great  was  the  love  they  bore  to  one  another,  and 
sweet  was  the  peace  which  subsisted  among  themselves  ; 
so  that  I  was  not  interrupted  from  my  work  by  making  up 
difTcrcnces  among  them. 

'•In  the  month  of  May,  1739,  I  began  to  think  that  the 
most  inviting  and  encouraging  subjects  would  be  the  most 
agreeable  to  convinced  souls  ;  and  accordingly  I  began  with 
these  words,  John  xi.  28,  29.  '  The  master  is  come,  and 
calleth  for  thee.  As  _soon  as  she  heard  that,  she  arose 
quickly,  and  came  unto  him.'  The  discourse  upon  this  sub- 
ject was  brought  home,  through  the  divine  influence,  upon 
the  souls  of  many.     Solemn  weeping,  and  deep  concern,  ap- 

liigli  dct^rce  before  tlicy  can  be  convcrlcil :  I  only  mean,  that  this  was 
the  way  which  the  Lord  observed  in  carrying  on  his  work,  to  keep 
sinners  for  a  long  time  utitJer  conviction,  before  he  manifested  his 
love  to  tliein. 


343  Tin:   iiKV.   JOHN   uowi.and. 

pcarcd  tlirough  the  co.igrcgalion  :  I  i)ad  hopes  thai  ilic  hearts 
of  some  had  been  knil  close  to  Jesus  our  Lord,  which  after- 
wards appeared  to  be  so;  of  which  more  hcrcafler.  I  was 
siill  encouraged  to  go  on,  in  inviting  convinced  sinners  to 
come  and  embrace  the  person  and  purchase  of  the  dear  Lord 
Jesus.  Then  1  madt!  choice  of  that  word  in  Mattliew  xxii. 
4.  'And  all  things  are  ready;  come  unto  the  marriage.' 
This  was  also  blessed  to  poor  convinced  souls;  they  wer** 
brought  under  a  full  persuasion  that  Jesus,  tTO  Son  of  God, 
was  ready  and  willing  to  embrace  them  with  his  everlasting 
favour,  and  to  pardon  their  sins  and  transgressions;  but  then 
they  found  more  of  their  own  hardness,  and  had  a  clearer 
view  of  their  own  unwillingness  to  come  unto  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  which  increased  their  mourning  and  sorrow, 
and  made  them  press  forwards  with  more  living  earnestness 
in  search  after  Jesus  Christ.  A  variety  of  other  engaging 
subjects  I  made  use  of  for  a  considerable  time,  to  press  them 
to  a  full  closure  with  Jesus  Christ.  At  leagih,  by  frequent 
converse  among  them,  and  enquiring  strictly  into  the  nature 
of  the  views  they  had  of  Christ,  and  the  outgoings  of  their 
souls  after  hicn,  and  their  willingness  to  be  ruled  by  Jesus 
Christ  in  their  whole  hearts  and  livc3,  I  could  not  but  be 
favourable  in  my  thoughts  of  such,  as  persons  favoured  of 
the  Lord. 

"I  find,  by  reading  what  accounts  I  iiept  by  me  of  the 
blessed  work  of  grace  which  hath  been  in  these  towns,  that 
there  was  much  good  done  by  visiting,  by  which  means  I 
found  out  many  that  had  been  touched,  of  whom  I  had  not 
well  heard  how  it  was  with  them,  which  gave  me  an  oppor- 
tunity to  ofiVr  such  things  unto  them,  as  might  tend  to  fix 
these  beginnings  in  their  souls,  and  increase  them.  So 
likewise  many  were  convinced  of  their  lost  state  by  nature. 
By  particular  examinations,  I  found  likewise,  that  private 
examination  of  persons,  as  to  their  slate  and  condition,  is  an 
excellent  mean  to  lay  them  open  to  conviction  under  the 
public  word  ;  and  thus  were  some  convinced  in  these  towns. 
"The  divine  influence  of  the  Spirit  of  God  was  very  evi- 
dently afforded  with  his  word,  though  not  in  every  opportu- 
nity, yet  in  several,  until  May,  1740,  in  which   time  many 


THE     REV.    JOHN    ROWLAND.  349 

more  were  added  unto  the  Lord's  people.  Soiuc  of  these 
opportunities,  for  clearness  sake,  I  shall  mention.  One  was 
in  October  6th,  1739,  in  a  night  meeting  ;  but  the  people  not 
having  been  warned  with  sufficient  care,  there  met  but  about 
fifteen  persons,  eleven  of  whom  were  deeply  convinced  of 
their  misery,  and  some  of  them  cried  out  so  very  awfully. 
that  I  was  consiraincd  to  conclude.  After  sermon  I 
took  an  opportunity  to  enquire  of  those  persons,  what  was 
the  real  cause  of  their  crying  out  in  such  a  manner.  Some 
of  whom  answered  me,  '  that  they  saw  hell  opening  before 
them,  and  themselves  ready  to  full  into  it.'  Others  answered 
me,  '  that  they  were  struck  with  such  a  sense  of  their  sin- 
fulness, that  they  were  afraid  the  Lord  would  never  have 
mercy  on  them.'  Another  of  these  opportunities  was  on 
December  30th,  1739.  As  to  myself,  I  felt  exceeding  poor 
in  the  frame  of  my  soul :  so  that  I  thought  I  might  well  say, 
as  in  the  words  of  the  text  I  preached  on  that  day,  Isa.  xl.  6, 
•What  shall  I  cry  V  But  the  Lord  was  pleased  lo  manifest 
his  grace  and  power  exjeedingly  through  tiie  whole  service. 
The  people  of  Gud  were  much  enlarged  in  love,  to  see  that 
whatever  gracious  word  was  sent  with  power  into  their 
hearts,  was  sent  from  God  ;  for  the  man  Knowelh  not  what 
to  cry,  -wiihout  being  guided  by  the  wurd  and  Spirit.  Some 
hardened  creatures,  who  thought  not  much  of  religion,  as  if 
there  was  no  reality  in  it,  were  deeply  convinced  of  the  truth, 
reality,  and  beauty  of  religion.  Oihers,  who  knew  not  well 
which  way  to  walk,  or  what  to  choose,  opposcrs  I  cannot  call 
them,  though  they  had  notjuincd  with  our  side  ;  such,  I  say, 
as  far  as  we  could  judge  tlie  tree  by  the  fruit,  were  i^^o  con- 
vinced and  convened  under  that  discourse.  Many  youths 
also  were  wrought  upon;  so  that  I  cannot  say  truly,  that 
any  remained  untouched.  Some  of  these  persons  were 
pleased  to  tell  rne,  '  that  they  never  would  forget  this  day, 
in  which  God  had  been  so  gracious  unto  them.'  As  to  back- 
sliders from  convictions,  who  were  not  converted,  I  shall 
afterwards  speak  of  them.  The  night  of  the  same  day  be- 
ing spent  in  public  worshi|>  (viz.  the  first  part  thereof),  was 
attended  with  the  same  divine  influence.  Another  of  these 
oppurluniiirs  was  in  April  6lh,  1710,  in  Maidenhead.     The 


350  Tin:     KKV.    JOHN     KDWI.AM). 

subject  that  was  insisted  on,  was  ilic  gospel-net,  from  Mall, 
xiii.  Many  who  were  nol  acfjuainted  vvilh  the  sptriiual  naiure 
of  the  gospel  in  the  least  degree,  as  far  as  I  found,  were 
greatly  bowed  down,  and  brought  to  own  that  it  was  the 
Lord's  work  which  was  carried  on.  The  peojjle,  in  general, 
through  the  whole  assembly,  seemed  as  if  they  were  hum- 
bled before  the  Lord,  which  afterwards  proved  itself  to  be 
so.  Without  controversy,  many  of  these  slippt-d  out  of  the 
net  as  fast  as  they  could  ;  yet  many,  blessed  be  God,  were 
held  in  it  by  almighty  power. 

"  I  come  next  to  speak  of  the  times  of  most  remarkable  power  that 
I  witnessed  in  these  towns.  It  begun  on  this  wise  ;  there  had  been 
a  week  day's  meeting  in  Maidenhead,  on  .luly  2Uh,  1740.  Worship 
seemed  to  be  attended  with  much  warinili  of  affection,  which  gave 
mnch  encouragement  to  the  minister  again  ;  for  iukewarmness  at  this 
time  had  prevailed  very  much  among  the  people ;  and  ihe  affections  of 
some  were  much  removed  from  others  of  their  fellow  members ; 
neither  did  they  seem  to  have  such  a  thirst  fur  the  word  of  God  as 
formerly.  Things  had  come  to  this  pass  in  about  two  months  ;  but 
how  astonishing  is  it  to  consider  what  sweet  methods  the  Lord  ob- 
served to  remove  them  !  for,  as  the  people  were  passing  homewards 
through  the  town  after  worship,  some  inclined  to  stop  at  one  of  the 
Christian  houses;  and  the  stopping  of  some  occasioned  others  to  slop 
tdl  the  number  was  about  forty  ;  and  when  they  were  all  set  iii  the 
house,  that  the  time  might  be  profitably  spent,  the  first  part  of  the 
fiftieth  psalm  was  sung,  whicli  seemed  to  be  performed  with  unusual 
quickening.  When  singing  was  over,  the  same  verses  were  explain- 
ed at  some  length,  and  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  was  pleased  to  work  by 
it  upon  all  that  were  present,  as  far  as  we  could  discern  by  the  out- 
ward m§n,  and  much  converse  that  was  spent  among  them  all  in  par- 
ticular. In  about  an  hour  afterwards,  the  love  of  God's  people  that 
were  present,  was  uncommonly  inflamed  to  Jesus  Christ,  their  views 
of  his  majesty  and  glory  were  much  enlarged,  their  longings  after 
him  much  stirred  up,  and  their  fear  of  him  graciously  increased  ; 
their  zeal  for  God's  glory  was  kindled  anew,  and  their  concern  for  the 
cause  of  God  seemed  to  receive  much  growth  ;  and  as  to  the  uncon- 
veited  that  were  present,  we  could  not  find  otherwise,  but  that  they 
had  received  very  clear  discoveries  of  their  undone  stale  by  nature. 
This  was  followed  with  the  mighty  power  of  God,  in  a  sermon  next 
evening  to  a  large  congregation  in  the  same  town.     And,  in  Amwel!, 


Tlllj    liEV.    JOHN     KUWLAND.  351 

July  27ili,  and  in  Maidenhead  again  on  August  3d,  Gud  was  pleaied 
to  magnify  his  grace  in  vi--iting  many  pjor  binncrs.  In  these  oppor- 
tunities he  opened  their  eyes  to  sec  themselves  without  Christ,  and 
without  ho[)e  in  the  world  ;  their  convictions  were  attended  with  great 
horror  and  trembling,  and  loud  weej.ing,  which  I  supposed  could  not 
he  stopped  so  easily  as  some  do  imagine  ;  for  I  ohscrvcd  that  many 
did  conlinue  crying  in  the  most  doleful  mar.ncr  along  the  road,  in 
their  wa}'  home;  and  it  was  not  in  the  power  of  man  to  prevail  with 
them  to  refrain  ;  for  the  word  of  the  I^ord  remained  like  firo  upon 
their  hearts.  Furthermore,  the  Lord  was  pleased  to  add  many  more 
to  my  people,  who  used  not  to  walk  with  them,  who  still  continue  in 
communion  with  them,  of  whom  I  hope  it  may  be  said,  that  they  are 
growing  in  grace,  and  in  the  knowledge  of  Jesus  Christ.  The  seed 
of  the  word  was  dropped  into  the  hearts  of  others,  who  bore  not 
much  regard  to  the  doctrine  of  the  new-birth  which  was  preached 
among  us,  and  did  not  spring  up  visibly  until  near  three  years  aftor. 

"As  to  the  issue  of  these  convictions  whi'h  I  have  last  mentioned, 
I  think  it  must  bo  owned,  Ihat  many  of  them  were  followed  with  a 
sound  converfion,  or  else  we  must  give  up  speaking  any  thing  as  to 
any  grace  in  this  life.  Many  backslided,  and  became  stifi'-nccked  again, 
tliough  I  must  say  that  I  have  not  seen  such  backslidings  in  these 
towns,  as  I  have  seen  in  many  others ;  the  instances  are  but  few 
in  them  in  comparison  to  what  I  have  seen  in  most  other  places  that 
I  have  been  acquainted  with.  One  great  mean  to  prevent  backsliding 
from  convictions  in  Amvvell,  was  this:  when  the  husband  was  taken, 
the  wife  was  also  taken,  or  when  the  wife  was  visited,  the  husband 
was  also  ;  so  that  they  were  ever  stirring  up  each  other.  Many  such 
instances  are  in  the  town  of  Amvvell,  upon  which  account  that  con- 
gregation appears  to  me  peculiarly  beaulilul ;  and,  as  to  Maidenhead 
and  Hopewell,  I  believe  that  one  great  mean  I'.rat  the  Lord  used  there 
to  prevent  backsliding,  was  the  care  and  diligence  of  some  of  the 
Christian  people  in  conversing  with  the  convinced  ;  for  several  of  the 
Christians  were  so  engaged  in  deep  concern  for  the  work  of  God, 
tiiat  they  could  not  rest  sjlisliod  until  they  had  reason  to  hope,  that 
the  souls  that  were  convinced  from  one  time  to  another,  were  a^o 
brought  through  to  sound  conversion. 

"Kespecting  the  nature  of  this  woik  which  I  have  been  speaking 
of,  it  will  appear  yet  more  distinct,  by  giving  some  account  of  their 
experiences.  And,  first,  I  would  speak  something  more  of  their  con- 
lictiouj ;  they  ran  give  a  very  diflcrent  ai.'ount  of  !-in,  b:jlh  origina!, 

V 


352  THE    K£V.    JOHN     KOWLANO. 

and  actual;  their  views  of  heart  coriujilion,  their  di.stance  from  God, 
and  Iheir  having  lived  so  long  williout  him,  were  veiy  clear  and  afTccl- 
ing  ;  their  hardness  and  unbelief,  their  ignorance  and  blindness  press- 
ed very  close  upon  them  ;  their  need  of  Christ,  and  his  Hpirit,  was 
Buch,  in  their  apprehension,  that  there  was  no  rest  nor  contentment 
to  be  taken  in  any  thing  here  below,  until  they  did  obtain  an  interest 
in  Jesus  Christ,  and  receive  his  Spirit  to  purify  and  sanctify  their 
hearts.  There  are  a  few  among  them,  whose  convictions  were  not 
attended  with  any  considerable  degree  of  horror ;  they  were  very 
watchful  over  themselves  lest  they  should  receive  false  comfort,  and 
80  rest  in  ungrounded  hopes  ;  their  hunger  after  Jesus  Christ,  his 
righteousness,  and  all  his  fulness,  was  very  earnest,  and  their  expe- 
rience of  it  very  clear ;  therefore  they  wanted  the  word  preached  often, 
and  they  would  sit  under  it  with  great  afTection,  wailing  on  the 
Lord.  Their  views  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  in  his  person,  nature  a  nd  offices, 
were  very  clear,  and  their  acquaintance  with  the  actings  of  their 
faith  on  him,  together  with  the  out-going  of  their  souls  in  love  towards 
him.  They  can  give  a  satisfying  account  of  those  things  according 
to  the  holy  scriptures.  Their  experience  of  a  saving  closure  with 
Jesus  Christ,  and  the  sweet  manifestations  they  had  of  him  at  the 
time  of  spiritual  marriage,  were  very  glorious,  and  their  affections 
have  been  often  stirred  afresh  towards  Jesus  Christ,  in  meditating  on, 
and  speaking  of  their  espousals.  They  are  careful  to  maintain  a 
holy  communion  with  God  in  the  general  course  of  their  lives.  I 
have  seen  some  of  them  in  considerable  agonies  when  they  have 
been  under  the  hidings  of  God's  face  ;  so  that  they  could  take  no  rest 
by  any  means,  until  the  gracious  Lord  would  be  jjleased  to  shine 
again  upon  them  with  the  light  of  his  countenance.  They  are  prop, 
erly  diligent  in  the  things  of  this  life  ;  yet  they  are  ready  to  attend 
on  the  word  of  God  on  any  opportunity  that  ofl'ers  to  them  on  week 
days. 

*'  They  still  continue  zealous  for  God  and  his  truth  ;  their  walk  is 
steady  in  the  ways  of  God,  and  not  unconstant  and  uneven.  And, 
that  I  may  conclude  with  Hopewell  and  Maidenhead,  I  would  say, 
that  Jesus  Christ  has  gathered  for  himself  a  blessed  flock  there  ;  and, 
however  they  muy  be  vilified  and  scorned  by  those  who  have  their 
portion  in  this  life,  yet  I  hope  no  less,  but  that  they  are  precious  with 
God,  and  shall  be  satisfied  with  the  pleasures  of  his  right  hand 
forevcrmorc.     Amen, 


Tiir:   UKV.  JOHN-  Kowi.AXP.  353 

After  sonic  time,  Mr.  Rowluiul  romoved  Irora 
New  Jersey  into  Pennsylvania,  where  lie  had  charge 
of  a  congregation  in  what  is  called  "  the  Great  Val- 
ley," and  also  of  Providence,  near  to  Norristown. 
Much  of  his  time,  however,  seems  to  have  been 
spent  in  itinerating,  and  preaching  from  place  to 
place,  during  the  great  awakening  with  which  the 
churches  were  then  visited. 

The  only  account  which  we  have  of  Mr.  Row- 
land's labours  and  success  in  Pennsylvania,  are 
given  by  himself  in  his  narrative  sent  to  Mr.  Prince. 

"  In  the  year  174*"  says  he,  "  I  came  and  lived 
in  Charlestown,  Pennsylvania,  and  have  continued 
according  to  the  order  of  the  Presbytery,  preaching 
among  them,  and  the  people  of  New  Providence, 
But  as  my  ministry  has  been  chiefly  successful  at 
the  latter  place,  since  I  came  into  these  parts,  I  shall 
only  speak  of  what  I  have  observed  of  tiie  work  of 
God,  in  New  Providence, 

"  The  people  of  this  place,  before  I  came,  were 
but  an  ignorant  sort  of  people,  unacquainted  with 
religion,  both  as  to  principle  and  practice ;  and 
though  they  would  pretend,  some  to  be  of  one  de- 
nomination, and  some  of  another  ;  yet  a  vain  name 
was  all.  Looseness  prevailed  much  in  the  place, 
and  there  was  not  one  to  speak  to  another  in  a  suit- 
able manner,  neither  of  the  viionoss,  deformity,  and 
unprofitableness  of  the  ways  of  sin ;  nor  of  the  glory, 

and  excellency,  and  profitableness  of  the  wavs  of 
VS 


351  TUK    IICV.    JOHN     ROWLAND. 

God.     I  know  not  that  any  of  tliem  ob.strvcd  lanu- 
ly  prayer,  or  even  asked  a  blessing  on  their  food. 
This  was  the  case  among  them,  as  they  told  me  at 
several  times,  and  again  hinre  I  began  to  write  this 
narrative.     The   conviction  and  conversion  of  the 
people  of  New  Providence  occurred  within  about 
two  months  of  one  another.     It  was  the  time  of  my 
travelHng  among  them  that  the  Lord  chose  to  bless 
for  their  ingathering  to  Jcsns  Christ ;  and  since  I 
have  laboured  statedly  among  them,  it  has  been  as 
much  my  endeavour  to  build  up  those  who  were 
called  into  the  fellowship  of  God,  as  to  convince 
sinners  of  their  misery,  and  to  this  end,  my  labours 
were  blessed   again   among  thera   throughout  the 
year  174*.     As  to  their  conviction  and  conversion 
unto  God,  I  may  say,  they  are  capable  to  give  a 
scriptural   account   of  these   things.     I   forbear   to 
speak  of  many  extraordinary  appearances,  such  as 
some  scores  crying  out  at  one  instant ;  and  of  others 
falling  down  and  fainting. 

"These  people  are  still  increasing  and  blessed  be 
the  Lord,  they  are  endeavouring  to  walk  in  com- 
munion with  God,  and  with  one  another.  And  for 
this  end,  they  meet  in  society,  in  the  meeting  house, 
two  or  three  hours  at  a  time,  for  prayer  and  praise; 
and  they  find  this  an  excellent  means  to  prepare 
them  for  the  holy  Sabbath.  They  are  careful  to 
maintain  the  worship  of  God  in  their  families,  and 
to  use  all  agreeable  [proper]  means  to  increase  their 
own  knowledge  in  the  thine-?  of  God. 


THE    KEV.    JOHX    ROWLAND.  355 

"  I  choose  to  say  no  more,  though  I  may  truly 
say,  that  what  I  have  spoken  of  the  glorious  work 
of  God  in  this  place,  and  in  the  towns  of  Amwell, 
Hopewell,  and  Maidenhead,  is  but  a  very  little  to 
what  I  might  have  said." 

There  is  one  circumstance  connected  with  this  re- 
vival in  New  Providence,  which  in  a  peculiar  man- 
ner interests  the  writer.  His  own  grandfather,  then 
residing  on  the  Schuylkill  above  Norristown,  was  a 
subject  of  this  revival,  and  a  member  of  this  church  ; 
although  he  was  awakened  imder  the  preaching  of 
Mr.  Whitefield. 

Though  Mr.  Rowland  filled  a  considerable  space 
ill  the  church,  while  he  lived,  as  he  was  a  boanerges 
in  denouncing  the  terrors  of  the  law  against  impeni- 
tent sinners,  insomuch  that  he  acquired  among  the 
irreligious,  the  title  so  often  given  to  faithful  preach- 
ers, "  the  hell-fire  Rowland,"  yet  no  word  or  me- 
morial of  the  close  of  his  life  remains.  He  seems 
not  lo  have  been  married,  and  to  have  died  early. 

Here,  we  may  remark,  that  none  of  the  distin- 
guished ministers  of  that  period,  except  William 
Tennent,  sen.,  reached  the  age  of  seventy ;  and 
some  of  the  most  able  and  successful  among 
tliem,  did  not  even  arrive  at  the  age  of  forty. 
Among  these  we  reckon  Samuel  Blair,  Samuel  Da- 
vies,  Wm.  Robinson,  and  John  Rowland.  These 
men  may  be  said  to  have  lived  fast.     They   did 

much  for  their  Lord,  in  a  short  time.     Being  burn- 
V3 


356  THE     RKV,    JOHN     noWI.ANI). 

ing  as  well  as  shining  lights,  they  were  tliomsolvcs 
consumed,  while  they  gave  light  to  others.  Oh  that 
a  race  of  ministers,  like-minded,  burning  with  a 
consuming  zeal,  might  he  raised  up  among  us  ! 


CHAPTER   XIX. 

CONCLUSION. 

Rev.  Charles  Beatty — Birth  and  education — Acts  as  a  pedier — Con- 
verses in  Latin  with  the  Founder  of  the  Log  College — Becomes  a 
student  in  tlie  Institution — Is  licensed  to  preach — Settles  at 
Neshaininy — A  missionary  to  tiic  Indians — An  agent  for  the 
Widow's  Fund — For  the  College  of  New  Jersey — Goes  to  Barba- 
does  and  dies  there — Letter  of  Rev.  .lonathan  Dickinson — Letter 
of  Rev.  Wm.  Tennent,  jr. 

The  Rev.  Charles  Beattv  was  another  of  tliu 
pupils  of  the  Log  College,  \vIiosc  name  should  bo 
rescued  from  oblivion. 

IVIr.  Beatty  was  a  native  of  the  north  of  Ireland, 
where  he  iiad  enjoyed  the  privilege  of  a  pretty  good 
classical  education;  but  being  of  an  adventurous 
and  enterprizing  spirit,  when  quite  young  lie  de- 
termined to  emigrate  from  the  land  of  his  nativity, 
and  seek  his  fortune  in  America.  Being  destitute 
of  property,  he  adopted  the  i)Ian  of  making;  his  liv- 
ing in  the  capacity  of  a  pedier,  or  travelling  mer- 
chant. One  day,  in  the  prosecution  of  his  business, 
he  called  at  the  Log  College,  and  astonished  Mr. 
Tennent,  the  principal,  by  addressing  him  in  correct 
Latin,  and  appeared  to  be  familiar  with  that  Ian- 


358  THE    UKV.    tJlAIU.KS    IILAIIV. 

guage.  After  much  conversation,  in  which  Mr. 
Beatty  manilested  fervent  piety,  and  considerable 
rehgious  knowledge,  as  well  as  good  education  in 
other  respects,  Mr.  Tennent  said  to  him,  "go  and 
sell  the  contents  of  your  pack,  and  return  immedi- 
ately and  study  with  me.  It  will  be  a  sin  for  you 
to  continue  a  pedler,  when  you  can  be  so  much 
more  useful  in  another  profession."  lie  accepted 
Mr.  Tennent's  offer,  and  in  due  time  became  an 
eminent  minister.  This  account  is  no  doubt  authen- 
tic, as  it  it  is  taken  from  Dr.  Miller's  Life  of  Dr. 
Rodgers,  who  had  long  been  intimately  acquainted 
with  Mr.  Beatty. 

After  ]Mr.  Beatty  had  finished  liis  studies  at  the 
Log  College,  he  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel 
by  the  presbytery  of  New  Brunswick ;  and  in  a 
short  time  afterwards,  was  settled  as  pastor  of  the 
church  at  Neshaminy,  left  vacant  by  the  death  of 
the  venerable  founder  of  the  Log  College.  About 
this  time,  in  consequence  of  the  publication  of 
Brainerd's  journal  of  missionary  labours  among  the 
Indians,  a  missionary  spirit  seems  to  have  been  en- 
kindled among  the  ministers  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  in  connection  with  the  synod  of  New  York 
and  New  Jersey.  Under  this  influence,  both  Mr. 
Beatty  of  Neshaminy,  and  IMr.  Treat  of  Abington, 
left  their  congregations,  and  went  on  a  mission  to 
the  Indians.  In  Allen's  American  Biographical 
Dictionary,  it   is  stated,  that  Mr.    Beatty   was  en- 


THE     REV,    CHARI.l:s    HEATTV.  359 

gaged  in  missionary  work,  from  1740  to  1765,  a 
period  of  twenty-five  years.  This  must  be  a  great 
mistake,  Mr.  Beatty  was  not  in  the  ministry  so  early 
as  1740,  and  his  service  as  a  missionary,  did  not 
continue  one-sixth  of  the  time  specified. 

Mr.  Beatty  was  an  able,  evangelical,  preacher, 
and  was  much  esteemed  for  his  private  virtues,  and 
public  labours.  He  seems  to  have  possessed  much 
of  a  public  spirit,  and  a  popular  address ;  for  he 
was  twice  employed  as  an  agent,  first  in  behalf  of 
the  Widow's  Fund,  established  for  the  benelit  of 
the  families  of  poor  presbyterian  ministers.  This 
agency  was  performed  by  the  appointment  of  the 
synod,  and  occurred  about  the  year  1761;  so  that 
he  could  not  then  have  been  on  a  mission  to  the 
Indians.  Afterwards,  he  was  appointed  to  collect 
funds  for  New  Jersey  College,  and  in  pursuance  of 
this  object,  he  went  to  the  island  of  Barbadoes? 
where  he  was  taken  sick,  and  died  on  the  1 3th  of 
August,  1772.  He  had  been  appointed  a  trustee  of 
the  college  in  1763,  and  continued  its  ardent  friend 
until  the  day  of  his  death  ;  and,  indeed,  he  sacrificed 
his  life  in  endeavouring  to  promote  its  prosperity. 

It  appears  from  the  college  records,  that  Dr.  With- 
erspoon  himself,  had  been  appointed  to  visit  the 
West  Indies,  to  collect  funds  for  the  college  ;  but 
finding  it  inconvenient  to  go,  he  recommended  his 
son,  James  Witherspoon,  to  the  Board.  Upon  which 
this  gentleman  was  commissioned,  and  also  the  Rev. 


360  TJIE    RKV.    rilAHI.KS    HKATTV. 

Charles  Beatty,  to  accompany  him.  The  death  of 
Mr.  Beatty  frustrated  the  scheme,  as  upon  his 
death,  Mr.  Witherspoon  returned  home.  In  regard 
to  Mr.  Beatty's  death,  tlie  only  thing  on  record  in 
the  minutes  of  the  Trustees,  in  whose  service  he 
was  employed,  is  the  following,  viz  :  "  It  appearing 
that  Mr.  Edward  Ireland,  in  Barbadoes,  had  showed 
particular  kindness  to  Mr.  Beatty,  ordered  that  W. 
P.  Smith,  Esq.,  write  a  letter  of  thanks  to  him  in 
the  name  of  the  Board." 

As  Mr.  Treat,  minister  of  Abington,  though  not 
educated  at  the  Log  College,  was  closely  associated 
with  the  members  of  the  New  Brunswick  Presby- 
tery, and  sympathized  with  them  in  all  their  mea- 
sures, and  was  one  of  those  cast  out  by  the  protest 
of  the  majority  of  the  members  of  the  synod  of 
Philadelphia,  it  may  be  proper  to  say  of  him,  that 
he  was  highly  esteemed  as  a  preacher  and  as  a  man, 
and  was  an  active  and  zealous  promoter  of  the  revi- 
val. He  and  Mr.  Beatty  were  neighbours  in  their 
fields  of  labour,  and  were  men  of  a  like  spirit. 
They  both  went  as  missionaries  to  the  Indians,  and 
were  devotedly  attached  to  the  Rev.  David  Brain- 
erd.  An  evidence  of  which  we  have  recorded  in 
his  journal.  Wlien  they  understood  that  he  was 
about  to  leave  the  work,  on  account  of  increasing  ill 
health,  they  travelled  all  the  way  to  Princeton,  to 
see  him  before  he  left  New  Jersey. 

JMr.  Treat  is  mentioned  by  Mr.  Wliitefield,  in  his 


THE    REV.    CHAKLES    BEATTV.  361 

journal,  as  a  minister  Avho  had  been  preaching  sev- 
eral years,  without  any  acquaintance  with  experi- 
mental religion  ;  but  was  brought  under  deep  con- 
cern for  his  soul,  by  hearing  Mr.  Whitefield  preach. 
And  having,  as  he  believed,  experienced  at  this  time 
a  change  of  heart,  he  became  very  zealous  in 
preaching  the  doctrines  of  grace,  and  warning  pro- 
fessors against  the  delusion  of  resting  on  a  mere 
form  of  religion. 

Of  the  Rev.  M.  Wales,  pastor  of  the  church  at 
Kingston,  and  one  of  the  original  members  of  the 
New  Brunswick  Presbytery,  we  have  received  no 
authentic  information.  In  Mr.  Whiteficld's  journal, 
we  find  the  names  of  a  Mr.  Campbell,  and  a  Mr. 
Lawrence  mentioned,  as  evangelical  ministers,  who 
had  received  their  education  in  this  institution  ;  but 
no  particulars  respecting  either  of  them  have  come 
down  to  us. 

Here  then  we  might  bring  our  labours  respecting 
the  Log  College,  to  a  close,  but  as  one  object  of  our 
work  is,  to  furnish  our  readers  with  a  lull  account 
of  the  extraordinary  revival  of  religion,  which  Avas 
in  progress,  in  this  state,  about  a  hundred  years 
ago,  we  will  add  as  a  sort  of  appendix  to  the  nar- 
ratives already  given,  two  letters,  the  one  written 
by  the  Rev.  Jonathan  Dickinson,  minister  of  Eliza- 
bethtown  and  addressed  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Foxcroft, 
of  I^ondon  ;  the  other,  a  letter  from  the  Rev.  Win. 
Tenncnt  of   Frccliold  in  Dr.  Finlny,  giving  an  in- 


362  REV.   MK.   Dickinson's  lkttkr. 

teresling  account  ol  a  revival  in  the  College  of 
New  Jersey,  in  the  year  1757,  which  has  been 
copied  from  the  autograpli,  now  in  the  possession  of 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Carnahan,  President  of  the  College. 
This  letter,  as  far  as  we  know,  has  never  been  pub- 
lished ;  except  that  an  extract  from  it  is  found  in 
the  preface  to  a  volume  of  Gilbert  Tennent's  Ser- 
mons ;  where,  however,  it  is  not  indicated  to  whom 
the  letter  was  addressed. 

3IR.  dickixson'.s  lkttek. 

"Elizabcthtown,  Aug.  23d,  1713. 

"  111  these  towns,  religion  was  in  a  very  low  state  ;  proles- 
sors  generally  lifeless,  and  the  body  of  our  people  careless, 
carnal  and  secure,  till  some  time  in  August,  1739,  the  sum- 
mer before  Mr.  Whiteficld  came  first  into  these  parts,  when 
there  was  a  remarkable  revival  at  Newark,  especially  among 
the  rising  generation :  many  of  whom  were  now  brought 
under  convictions,  and  instead  of  frequenting  vain  company 
as  usual,  were  flocking  to  their  minister  Avith  that  important 
inquiry,  'what  shall  we  do  to  be  saved?'  This  concern  in- 
creased for  a  considerable  time  among  the  young  (though 
not  wholly  confined  to  them)  ;  and  in  November,  December, 
''^  and  January  following,  it  became  more  remarkable,  as  well 
as  more  general.  There  was  an  apparent  reformation  among 
the  youth  of  the  town :  their  customary  tavern-haunting, 
frolicking,  and  other  youthful  extravagancies,  were  now  laid 
aside,  a  new  face  of  things  appeared  in  the  town:  all  occa- 
sions of  religious  conversation  were  improved  with  delight: 
a  seriousness,  solemnity,  and  devout  attention  appeared  in 
their  public  assemblies  ;  and  a  solemn  concern  about  their 
eternal  welfare,  w^as  visible  in  the  very  countenances  of 
many.  This  revival  of  religion  was  chiefly  observable 
among  the  younger  people,  till  the  following  March  ;  when 


REV.     Mn.     1)I(  KINSO.N   S     LETTF.n.  36;i 

the  whole  town  in  general  was  brought  under  an  uncommon 
concern  about  their  eternal  interests  ;  and  the  congregation 
appeared  universally  affected  under  some  sermons  that  were 
then  preached  to  them  ;  and  there  is  good  reason  to  conclude, 
that  there  was  a  considerable  number  who  experienced  a 
saving  change  about  that  time.  The  summer  following,  ibis 
awakening  concern  sensibly  abated,  though  it  did  not  wholly 
die  away  ;  and  nothing  remarlcable  occurred  till  February, 
1740-41,  when  they  were  again  visited  with  the  special  and 
manifest  effusions  of  the  Spirit  of  God.  A  plain,  familiar 
sermon  then  preached,  without  any  peculiar  terror,  fervour, 
or  affectionate  manner  of  address,  Avas  set  home  with  pow- 
er. Many  were  brought  to  sec  and  feel,  that  till  then,  they 
had  no  more  than  a  name  to  live ;  and  professors  in  general, 
were  put  upon  serious  and  solemn  inquiries  into  the  founda- 
tion of  their  hope.  There  seemed  to  be  very  few  in  the 
whole  congregation,  but  who  felt  more  or  less  the  power  of 
God  at  this  happy  season  ;  though  the  greatest  concern  now 
appeared  among  the  rising  generation.  There  is  good  rea- 
son to  conclude,  that  there  were  a  greater  number  now 
brought  home  to  Christ,  than  in  the  former  gracious  visita- 
tion. It  was  remarkable  at  this  season,  that  as  sinners  were 
generally  under  an  awakening  distressing  sense  of  their  guilt 
and  danger :  so  the  children  of  God  were  greatly  refreshed 
and  comforted  ;  their  souls  were  magnifying  the  Lord,  and 
rejoicing  in  God  their  Saviour,  while  others,  in  distressing 
agony,  were  crying  out,  '  men  and  brethren,  what  shall  we 
do  ?' 

'  In  the  summer  following,  this  religious  concern  sensibly 
decayed  ;  though  the  sincere  converts  now  held  fast  their 
profession  without  wavering  ;  yet  there  were  too  many  who 
had  been  under  convictions,  that  grew  careless  and  secure  : 
and  all  endeavours  proved  ineffectual  to  give  new  life  to 
their  former  solicitude  about  their  eternal  welfare.  What 
seemed  greatly  to  contribute  to  this  (now  growing)  security 
among  these,  was  the  pride,  false  and  rash  zeal,  and  censo- 
riousness,  which  appeared  among  some  few  at  this  lime, 
who  made  high  pretences  to  religion.  This  opened  the 
mouths  of  many  against  the  whole  work  ;  and   raised  thai 


3<)4  WKV.    MU.    DK  KI.\sON*>    l.V.lil.K. 

oppoeiiion  which  was  not  before  heard  of :  almosl  every 
body  seeming  lo  acknowledge  the  finger  of  God  in  these 
wonderful  appearances,  till  this  handle  was  given  to  their 

opposition.     And  the  dreadful  scandals  of  Mr.  C ,  which 

came  to  light  about  this  tune,  proved  a  means  to  still  further 
harden  many  in  their  declension  and  aposlacy.  That  un- 
happy gentleman  having  made  so  high  pretensions  to  ex- 
traordinary piety  and  zeal,  his  scandals  gave  the  deeper 
wound  to  vital  and  experimental  godliness.  Thus  Sir,  I 
have  faithfully  given  you  a  narrative,  in  some  brief  and 
general  hints  of  the  late  revival  of  religion  at  Newark  ;  and 
shall  now  proceed  to  give  you  a  brief  view  of  the  like  mani- 
festations of  the  divine  grace  at  Eiizabethtown. 

"  The  Rev.  Mr.  "WhiteGeld  preached  a  sermon  here  in  the 
fall  of  the  year  1739,  to  a  numerous  and  attentive  auditory  ; 
but  1  could  observe  no  further  influence  upon  our  people  by 
that  address,  than  a  general  ihoughifulncss  about  religion; 
and  a  promptitude  lo  make  the  extraordinary  zeal  and  dili- 
gence of  that  gentleman,  the  common  and  turning  topic  of 
their  conversation.  I  do  not  know  that  there  was  any  one 
person  brought  under  conviction,  or  any  new  and  special  con- 
cern about  their  salvation,  by  that  sermon  ;  nor  more  than 
one  by  any  endeavours  that  were  used  with  them  that  fall, 
or  the  succeeding  winter.  Though  there  was  such  a  shak- 
ing among  the  dry  bones  so  near  lo  us,  as  is  above  repre- 
sented, and  we  had  continual  accounts  from  IMeAvark  of  the 
growing  distress  among  their  people,  (their  young  people 
especially)  our  congregation  remained  yet  secure  and 
careless;  and  could  not  be  awakened  out  of  their  sleep. 
You  will  easily  conceive,  that  this  must  needs  be  an  afflicting 
and  discouraging  consideration  to  me  ;  that  when  from  other 
places,  we  had  the  joyful  news  of  so  many  flying  to  Christ 
as  a  clcud,  and  as  doves  to  their  windows,  I  had  yet  cause  to 
complain,  that  I  laboured  in  vain,  and  spent  my  strength  for 
nought.  But  notwithslandmg  all  these  discouraging  appear- 
ances, I  could  not  but  cntcriain  an  uncommon  concern,  par- 
ticularly for  the  young  people  of  my  charge,  during  that 
winter  and  the  ensuing  spring  ;  which  not  only  animated  my 
addresses  to  the  throne  of  gi"nce  on  their  behalf,  but  my  en- 


REV.   Mu.   Dickinson's  letter.  3(35 

deavours  also  to  excite  ia  ihem,  if  possible,  some  affcciing 
sense  of  their  misery,  danger,  and  necessity  of  a  Saviour. 
To  that  end,  there  were  frequent  lectures  appointed  for  the 
young  people  in  particular;  but  without  any  visible  success, 
until  some  time  in  June,  ITiO,  when  we  had  a  remarkable 
manifestation  of  liie  divine  presence  with  us. 

"Having  at  that  time  invited  the  young  people  to  hear  a 
sermon,  there  was  a  numerous  congregation  convened,  which 
consisted  chiefly  of  our  youth,  though  there  were  many 
others  with  them.  I  preached  to  them  a  plain,  practical 
sermon,  without  any  special  liveliness  or  vigour;  for  I  was 
then  in  a  remarkably  dead  and  dull  frame,  till  enlivened  by 
a  sudden  and  deep  impression,  which  visibly  appeared  upou 
the  congregation  in  general.  There  was  no  crying  out,  or 
falling  down— as  elsewhere  has  happened — but  the  inward  dis- 
tress and  concern  of  the  audience  discovered  itself  by  their 
tears,  and  by  an  audible  sobbing  and  sighing  in  almost  all 
parts  of  the  assembly.  There  appeared  such  tokens  of  a 
solemn  and  deep  concern,  as  I  never  before  saw  in  any  con- 
gregation whatsoever.  From  this  time,  we  heard  no  more 
of  our  young  people's  meeting  together  for  frolics  and  extra- 
vagant diversions,  as  had  been  usual  among  them  ;  but  in- 
stead thereof,  private  meetings  for  religious  exercises  were 
by  them  set  up  in  several  parts  of  the  town.  Ail  our  oppor- 
tunities of  public  worship,  were  carefully  and  constantly 
attended  by  our  people  in  general  ;  and  a  serious  and  solemn 
attention  to  the  ministry  of  the  word,  was  observable  in 
their  very  countenances.  Numbers  were  almost  daily  re- 
pairing to  me  for  assistance  in  their  eternal  concerns.  There 
were  then  probably  more  came  to  me  in  one  day  on  that 
errand,  than  usually  in  half  a  year's  space  before.*     In  a 

•  "  Agreeable  to  this,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Dickinson,  in  another  letter 
wrote  about  that  lime  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Foxcroft,  viz,  September  4th, 
1740,  has  these  remarkable  passages  : — 'I  have  still  the  comfortable 
news  to  inform  you  of,  that  there  is  yet  a  great  revival  of  religion  in 
these  parts.  I  have  had  more  young  people  address  me  for  direction 
in  their  spiiitual  concerns  within  these  three  months,  than  in  thirty 
years  before.' 


366  KEV.    MR.    DlfKINSON''^     I.KTTEU. 

word,  the  face  of  the  congregation  was  quite  altered  ;  and 
religion  became  the  common  subject  of  conversation  among 
a  great  part  of  the  people. 

"  Though  this  W(jrk  began  among  our  young  people  ;  and 
the  most  of  those  with  whom  we  have  reason  to  conclude  it 
became  efi'ectual,  were  of  the  younger  sort ;  yet  there  were 
some  who  had  lived  a  careless  and  sensual  life  to  an  ad- 
vanced age,  who  were  under  convictions,  and,  I  hope,  sav- 
ingly brought  home  to  Christ,  at  this  blessed  time  of  the  ef- 
fusion of  his  Holy  Spirit.  Though  there  were  so  many  brought 
under  convictions  at  once,  we  had  very  little  appearance  of 
those  irregular  heats  among  us,  which  are  so  loudly  complain- 
ed of  in  some  other  parts  of  the  land.  I  do  not  remember  to 
have  heard  of  above  two  or  three  instances  of  any  thing  of  that 
nature,  in  this  congregation;  and  those  were  easily  and  speedi- 
ly regulated.  It  is  observable,  that  this  work  was  substan- 
tially the  same  in  all  the  differing  subjects  of  it,  though  some 
passed  through  much  greater  degrees  of  distress  and  terror 
than  others;  and  this  distress  lasted  much  longer  with  some 
than  with  others  ;  yet  all  were  brought  under  a  deep  sense  of 
their  sin,  guilt,  and  danger  ;  and  none  that  I  know  of  obtain- 
ed satisfying  discoveries  of  safety  in  Christ,  till  they  were  first 
brought  to  despair  of  help  from  themselves  or  any  of  their 
own  refuges,  and  to  see  and  feel  that  they  lay  at  mercy. 

"  We  had  no  instances  among  us  of  such  sudden  conversions 
as  I  have  heard  of  elsewhere  ;  but  our  new  converts  were 
all  for  a  considerable  time  under  a  law  work,  before  they 
were  brought  to  any  satisfying  views  of  their  interest  in 
Christ  and  the  favour  of  God.  Nor  had  we  many  instances 
of  those  ecstatic,  rapturous  joys,  that  were  so  frequent  in 
some  other  places.  It  was  remarkable  that  they  who  were 
formerly  eminent  for  religion,  were  now  greatly  quickened 
and  revived  ;  and  some  of  them  had  now  such  joyful  mani- 
festations of  God's  love  to  their  souls  as  they  had  never  be- 
fore experienced.  It  was  also  remarkable,  that  as  this 
work  began  among  us  in  a  time  of  greatest  health  and  pros- 
perity ;  so  the  concern  began  sensibly  to  wear  off  in  one  of 
the  greatest  mortalities  that  had  ever  been  known  in  the 
town  ;  which  makes  it  appear  more  evidently  to  be  the  work 


REV.  \VM.  tennent's  letteh  367 

of  God  himself.  Though  there  wore  some  of  those  who 
were  then  under  special  convictions,  that  have  worn  off  their 
impressions,  and  are  become  secure  and  careless  ;  yet  I  do 
not  know  of  any  two  persons,  who  gave  reasonable  hopes  of 
a  real  change  at  that  time,  but  who  have  hitherto  by  their 
conversation  confirmed  our  hopes  of  their  saving  conversion 
to  God. 

"  I  would  be  very  cautious  of  any  confident  determinations, 
with  respect  to  the  conversion  of  particular  persons  :  but  if 
we  may  judge  the  tree  by  the  fruits,  which  we  have  now  had 
so  long  a  time  to  observe,  we  have  reason  to  suppose,  that 
near  about  sixty  persons  have  received  a  saving  change  in  this 
congregation  only,  and  a  number  in  the  parish  next  adjoin- 
ing to  us,  though  I  dare  not  pretend  to  guess  how  many, 
since  the  beginning  of  this  work.  The  general  concern 
which  as  I  have  observed,  appeared  upon  thefaceof  the  con- 
gregation, has  gradually  worn  off;  and  a  great  part  of  those 
who  came  short  of  the  oflVctual  and  saving  influences  of  the 
blessed  Spirit,  are  returned  to  their  former  security  and  in- 
sensibility, and  again  appear  like  a  valley  of  dry  bones. 
Though  there  be  yet  a  considerable  number,  that  do  not  give 
satisfying  evidences  of  a  regenerate  state,  who  have  not 
worn  off  iheir  serious  impressions.. 

"  I  entreat  your  prayers  for  us,  thai  He  with  whom  is  the 
residue  of  the  Spirit,  would  again  revive  his  work  among  us, 
and  have  compassion  upon  the  many  poor  souls  who  are  yet 
in  the  paths  of  destruction  and  death.  And  be  pleased  par- 
ticularlv  to  remember  at  the  throne  of  grace.  Yours,  &:c. 
JONATHAN  DICKINSON." 

MU.    WILLIAM    TENNENT's    LETTER.  ' 

"February  27,  1757. 
"Mr  Dear  Biiotiieh, 
"  Yours  of  the  lltli  of  January,  I  received,  last  night.  It  was  pre- 
cious to  nic  as  it  seemed  to  iiiilatne  an  afTection,  which  I  trust  shall 
continue  throughout  eternity.  How  sweet  is  love  to  the  brethren  ? 
How  rcficshing  to  feel  that  what  wc  have  is  no  farther  our  own,  than 
as  it  serves  to  glorify  God,  and  benefit  his  people.  I  never  ques- 
tioned, though    I  wondered  at   your  regard    for  me.     D'lt  lo    paci  to 


368  REV.    WM.    TKNNENT  S    LETTKR. 

something  of  greater  inipoitance.  I  went  to  college  lant  Monday, 
having  heard  that  God  had  begun  a  work  of  the  Spirit  there  :  and 
saw  as  astonishing  a  display  of  God's  power  and  grace,  as  I  ever  be. 
held  or  heard  of  in  the  conviction  of  sinners.  Not  one  member  in 
the  house  missed  it,  in  a  greater  or  lesser  degree.  The  whole  bouse 
was  a  Bochim.  A  sense  of  God's  holiness  was  so  impressed  on  the 
hearts  of  its  inhabitants,  that  there  were  only  two  who  were  esteemed 
to  be  religious,  that  I  know  of,  whose  hopes  were  not  greatly  i-hakcn. 
The  glorious  ray  reached  the  Latin  school,  and  much  ailectcd  the 
master  and  a  number  of  the  scholars.  Nor  was  it  confined  to  the 
students  only  ;  some  others  were  awakened.  I  spoke  with  all  the 
members,  personally,  except  one  that  I  providentially  found  the  most 
of  whom  inquired  with  anxious  solicitude,  what  they  should  do  to  be 
saved,  according  to  the  example  of  the  trembling  jailor.  .  .  I  never  saw 
any  in  that  case  who  had  more  clear  views  of  God,  themselves,  their 
duty,  defects,  their  impotence  and  misery,  than  they  had  in  general. 
Every  room  had  mourning  inhabitantd:  their  studies  witnessed  to 
their  prayers.  You  will  want  to  know  how  they  behaved.  I 
answer,  as  solemn  mourners  at  the  funeral  of  a  dear  friend.  It 
pleased  the  Lord  so  to  order  it,  that  there  were  no  public  outcries. 
I  believe,  there  never  was  in  any  house  more  genuine  sorrow  for  sin, 
and  longing  for  Jesus.  The  work  so  far  exceeded  my  most  enlarged 
expectations,  that  I  was  lost  in  surprize,  and  constrained  often  to  say, 
'  Is  it  so  }  Can  it  be  true  ?'  Nor  is  my  being  eye  and  ear  witness 
from  Monday  to  Friday  at  two  o'clock,  able  to  recover  me  from  my 
astonishment.  I  felt  as  the  apostles  when  it  was  told  them,  the 
Lord  had  risen.  They  could  not  believe  through  fear  and  great  joy. 
Surely  the  good,  the  great  Jehovah,  is  wise  in  counsel,  and  wonder- 
ful in  working.  I  can  truly  say,  that  my  reverend  brethren  and  my- 
self, felt  no  small  degree  of  that  pleasing  suiprize  that  possessed  the 
Israelites  in  their  return  frorri  the  Babylonish  captivity,  mentioned  in 
Psalm  cxxvi.  when  the  Lord  turned  again  the  captivity  of  Zion, 
'  We  were  like  them  that  dreamed.'  '  The  Lord  hath  done  great 
things  for  us,  w  hereof  we  are  glad.' 

"  This  glorious  work  was  gradual,  like  the  increasing  light  of  the 
Hiorning.  It  was  not  begun  by  the  ordinary  means  of  preaching  ;  nor 
have  any  alarming  methods  been  used  to  promote  this  religious  con 
cern  ;  yet  so  great  was  the  distress,  that  I  did'nol'  think  proper  to 
use  any  arguments  of  terror,  in  public,  lest  some  should  sink  under 
the  weight  of  their  distress.     Notwithstanding,  I  found  hy  conversing 


REV.    WM.    TENNENT's  LETTER.  309 

with  them  ;  that  a  wise  and  gracious  Providence  had  brought  about 
a  concurrence  of  different  incidents  which  tended  to  engage  them  to 
a  serious  thoughtfulness  about  their  souls.  These  things  considered 
in  connexion,  I  humbly  conceive,  manifest  singularly  the  finger  of 
God:  the  freeness  of  which  grace  will  equally  appear,  by  considering 
that  a  little  before  this  gracious,  never  to  be  forgotten  visitation, 
some  of  the  youth  had  given  a  greater  loose  to  their  corruptions,  than 
was  common  among  them — a  spirit  of  pride  and  contention,  to  the 
great  grief,  and  almost  discouragement  of  the  worthy  president. 
There  was  little  or  no  motion  of  the  passions  in  the  preachers,  dur- 
ing their  public  performances ;  nor  any  public  discourses  in  the 
hours  allotted  for  study,  but  at  the  morning  and  evening  piaycrs ; 
and  these  brief,  consisting  of  plain  scriptural  directions,  proper  to 
persons  under  spiritual  trouble.  The  president  never  shone  in  my 
eye  as  he  does  now.  His  good  judgment  and  humility,  his  zeal  and 
integrity  greatly  endeared  him  to  me.  Before  I  came  away,  several 
received  something  like  the  spirit  of  adoption,  being  tenderly  affected 
with  a  sense  of  redeeming  love,  and  thereby  disposed,  and  determined 
to  endeavour  after  holiness  in  all  things. 

"I  cannot  fully  represent  the  glorious  work.  It  will  bear  your 
most  enlarged  apprehensions  of  a  work  of  grace.  Let  God  have  all 
the  glory.  My  poor  children,  through  free  grace  partook  of  the 
shower  of  blessing.  Eternally  praised  be  my  God  and  Father,  who 
has  herein  pitied  the  low  estate  of  his  most  mean  and  worthless  ser- 
vant, in  graciously  granting  me  my  desire.  This  to  me  is  a  tree  of 
life:  yea,  it  is  to  my  soul  as  if  I  had  seen  tlie  face  of  God.  I  left 
them  in  distress,  they  are  in  the  hands  of  a  gracious  God,  to  whom  I 
have  long  since  devoted  them  with  all  my  heart  and  soul.  Seeing 
you  desire  to  know  their  names,  they  are  John  and  William.  Per- 
haps, a  few  lines  from  you,  dear  brother,  might  be  blessed  to  them. 
Praying  our  sincerest  affection  to  Mrs.  Finley.  I  greatly  need  your 
prayers,  that  I  may  be  thankful  and  faithful  unto  death. 

"  I  am  yours, 

"  WM.  TENNENT,  Jr." 


w 


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